Panama 1976-FM 500 balboas
This specimen was lot 31146 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description[1] noted, "Panama: Republic gold Proof "Vasco Núñez de Balboa" 500 Balboas 1976-FM PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC, Franklin mint. This piece was struck to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his birth and highlights a noble portrait of the explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, for which this denomination is named. From the Paramount Collection." 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: 2,689 proofs + 170 uncirculated.
Specification: 41.7 g, 0.900 fine gold, AGW 1.2066 oz.
Catalog reference: KM 42, Fr-2.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- 1976 100 balboas, 500th anniversary of the birth of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
- 1976 20 balboas, Simon Bolivar
- 1976 150 balboas, 150th anniversary of the Congress of Panama
- 1977 100 balboas, 500th anniversary of the birth of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
- 1978 500 balboas, 30th Anniversary, Organization of American States
- Coins and currency dated 1976