Panama 1953 1/2 balboa
This specimen was lot 72642 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $115. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA. 1/2 Balboa, 1953. Philadelphia Mint. PCGS MS-66 Gold Shield. Extremely radiant and argent, this glistening and sharply struck Gem emanates from a one-year issue and celebrates the 50th year of Panamanian independence." This type was struck in the United States using half dollar blanks. The type was issued to honor the fiftieth anniversary of independence from Colombia. Special quarter, tenth and one balboas (KM 19, 18 and 21) also marked the occasion. All are common.
Recorded mintage: 600,000 + 5 proofs.
Specification: 12.50 g, 0.900 fine silver, 30.6 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-20.
- Altz, Charles G., and E. H. Barton, Foreign Coins Struck at United States Mints, Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1965.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Robinson, Charles, The Coins of Central America, 1733-1965, San Benito, TX: 1965.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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