Panama 1976-FM 100 balboas
This specimen was lot 72269 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA. 100 Balboas, 1976-FM. Franklin Mint. GEM PROOF. Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, this proof issue sparkles with a great cameo contrast. Includes original box and certificate of issue." No gold coin has ever been struck for circulation in Panama. This denomination was first used for large gold commemoratives in 1975 and the Franklin Mint issued all of them until 1985. This type was struck 1975-77. Unfortunately, collecting Panamanian coins lost its popularity after the Franklin mint overissued proof sets and commemoratives in the 1970's and 1980's. For years, few Panamanian coins sold for more than melt.
Recorded mintage: 11,000 proofs plus 3,013 uncirculated.
Specification: 8.16 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.2361 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-1; KM 41.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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