The only bear native to South America looks out from Colombia’s smallest coin: the 50 pesos shows the spectacled bear, named beside it in Spanish and Latin — «OSO de ANTEOJOS», «TREMARCTOS ORNATUS». It is the last living member of the short-faced bears, and the pale «spectacles» around its eyes differ from animal to animal, so researchers can tell individuals apart by them.

The coin opens the series that Banco de la República put into circulation in the second half of 2012, with each denomination devoted to Colombia’s wildlife. The bear was drawn by artist José Antonio Suárez, and the fine wavy lines beneath it evoke water, the thread running through the whole series. The animal lives only in humid Andean forests across all three of the country’s mountain ranges, and the loss of those forests puts it at risk of extinction.

The 2026 piece is the newest date for a type struck since 2012. Uncirculated condition: the coin has never been in circulation, the relief shows no wear and the original mint lustre is intact; only minor marks from storage in bank bags are acceptable.

Collecting a date run? Look for the neighbouring years of this type in the VPcoins catalogue.