Panama 1953 1/4 balboa
This specimen was lot 34468 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $10,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA. 1/4 Balboa, 1953. NGC PROOF-66 Ultra Cameo. A true RARITY, this enchanting proof issue, with an immensely small mintage, offers a delightful frosting to the devices along with immense mirrored brilliance in the fields. Just the slightest degree of haziness in a few spots on the obverse prevents an even higher designation, though, given the paucity in existence, is really of little to no consequence." On the occasion of fiftieth anniversary of independence, the Panamanian regime had the U.S. Mint strike commemorative one centesimos and tenth, quarter, half and one balboas in silver. All are fairly common but the proofs are rare.
Recorded Mintage: 1,200,000 plus 5 proofs.
Specification: 6.25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 24.3 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-19.
- 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.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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