The Philatelic Numismatic Museum (Museo Filatélico Numismático) was inaugurated in 1990 under the name of Jaime Solera Bennett, who is distinguishes for its business and as the President of the Central Bank of Costa Rica. The interest in numismatics of Solera Bennett led him to the development of the collections of the Central Bank and, personally, to form one of the best collections of bills in Costa Rica, which was donated by his family to this museum in 1997. The museum belongs to one of the museums of the Central Bank, which maintains a large collection of stamps, the history of the telegraph and mail, among other things. The museum is located on the second floor of the Central Post Office Building of Costa Rica in San José.
 The currency history in Costa Rica, from the “Real” to the “Colón”, is the new permanent exhibit at the Jaime Solera Bennett Numismatics Museum. This exhibit shows the evolution of the various means of change since 1502 until now in a very dynamic way. The tour explains about money and its use, and portrays a very interesting history of the country’s currency as the use of barter, the use of metallic coins which had its beginnings in the colonial period, the use of foreign coins and coffee and banana ticket s, the issue of banknotes of different banks until the Central Bank consolidation, the symbol shown in coins and notes, among other interesting topics. The most beautiful and valuable coins, bills, dies and coffee and bananas tickets from the Central Bank’s collection are displayed in this exhibition.
The Museum also offers an interactive area for promoting the collection of notes and coins and a video called “Paper and Silver Passions”. The collection of coins began in the 1950s and has about 5000 objects. The first numismatic exhibition took place at the Costa Rica Central Bank in 1971 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Independence of Costa Rica.
Address: 1st and 3rd Avenue, 2nd St., in the Central Post Office Building of Costa Rica.
GPS Coordinates: 9.934947,-84.079842 (9°56’5.81″N, 84°04’47.43″W)
Schedule: from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: www.museodelbancocentral.org
Phone: + (506) 2223-6918
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On October 30th, 1924, the Congress of the Republic of Costa Rica adopted the Law No. 12 which created a monopoly on insurance in favor of the State, giving the name of Insurance National Bank, and 24 years later, changed its name to the National Insurance Institute (INS in Spanish). This institution aims to provide protection and service to the people  of Costa Rica.
In the seventies, the National Insurance Institute faced the situation of relentless stealing and commercialization of archaeological objects, both inside and outside the national territory, so the museum acquired artifacts from collectors by purchase and in a few cases, by donation. By then, the INS had made up its objects collection from pre-Columbian times to approximately 7000 pieces of various materials such as jade, ceramics, stone, gold, shell, wood, resin, bone and others. For these acquisitions and for historical reasons it prevailing the aesthetic in contrast to the daily. On October 31st, 1977, the INS opened the Museum under the name “Archaeological Collection of the National Insurance Institute”, and then in 1980 with the agreement of the XI Session of 6556 the current Directorate, renamed by the current Jade Museum (Museo del Jade).
Following the failure to restructure a lost cause for the non-scientific excavation methods, the Jade Museum was given the task of promoting research projects, in order to ascertain, if possible, through the association of scientifically excavated objects. These investigations have made in fields such as: anthropological, archaeological, geologist, artist and ethno-musical.
The Jade Museum, with over twenty years of operation has enabled thousands of nationals and foreign visitors to visit their exhibition halls, taking the opportunity to admire one of the richest collections of American institutions. The variety of its collection, consisting of four collections, archeology, art, ethnography,  numismatics and it reflects one of the objectives of the INS, to generate a social contribution, through registration, documentation and exhibits shows.
For more than quarter of a century, the cultural heritage that guards the museum, has served as ambassador to Costa Rica, as part of international exhibitions displayed in different cities in America, Europe and Asia. The high quality of the art collection is reflected for instance in the significant number of works by renowned Costa Rican artists, representing various periods of the national plastic production, which on many occasions have been given on loan to exhibition and research.
Similarly, the Jade Museum throughout these years has facilitated its showrooms, both to publicize the product of national and international artists as the exhibition shows related a wide range of subjects like history, science, technology and other topics related to human activity. Today is the only existing museum of pre-Columbian jade, with the largest collection in this exhibition, because this archaeological museum shows not only jade objects but valuable pieces carved in stone and ceramics of high artistic quality. The museum is located on the first floor of the National Insurance Institute of Costa Rica.
Address: 7th and 9th Avenue, 9th and 11th St., at the INS building in San José, Costa Rica
GPS Coordinates: 9.936456,-84.073833 (9°56’11.24″N, 84°4’25.80″W)
Schedule: from Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Website: www.portal.ins-cr.com/Social/MuseoJade
Phone: + (506) 2287-6034
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The Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Historical Museum (Museo Histórico del Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia) opened its doors in March 1994 although the decree establishing dates from 1991. The museum owes its name to the  president of the Republic (1940-1944), Meritorious Fatherland and great social reformer of Costa Rica, who was inspired by the social doctrine of the Catholic Church in Belgium, which was his guide to take a political and ideological position in favor of the most disadvantaged groups of society. He involved in political life in 1930 with broad support from popular groups.
His government pushed forward the great social reform of Costa Rica which included the creation of the University of Costa Rica (1940), the “Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social” or Costa Rican Social Insurance (1941), the inclusion of the Social Guarantees in the Constitution (1943) and the enactment of the first Labor Code (1943). His visionary work helped the Government to lay the foundations for peace and social justice, values that are the pride of Costa Rica today.
The building houses the Manuel de la Cruz González gallery as part of the Museum and will take place in various art exhibitions by painters, sculptors and artisans. The house that houses it is an old French adobe building with 800 square meters, built in 1912 using a neoclassical architectural interpretation. It is the old Calderón family mansion, a historic building, it presents the life of President Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia located in Barrio Escalante, 100 meters east and 150 meters north of the Santa Teresita Church in San José.
In 1979 was declared a national heritage and was recently recognized by the Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Center by the MCJD as one of the best preserved buildings. It also worked for several years as host of the Anastacio Alfaro High School, the ITCO and the Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Historical Museum has documentation of the 1948 war, student library, exhibitions, films, theater and dance in the auditorium, with a large parking lot with parking for 30 vehicles and security.
Address: 11th Avenue, 25th and 27th St., in Barrio Escalante, San José, Costa Rica
GPS Coordinates: 9.936856,-84.065711 (9°56’12.68″N, 84°03’56.56″W)
Schedule: from Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: www.mcjdcr.go.cr/patrimonio/museo_calderon_guardia
Phone: + (506) 2221-1239 / 2255-1218
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