Panama 1982-FM balboa
The year 1904 inaugurated coinage for the newly independent Panamanian republic. In the original system, one balboa = 2 U.S. dollars, and 2½, 5, 25 and 50 centesimos were struck to this standard 1904-16. In 1930, the system was reorganized and one balboa = one dollar and all new types issued. The United States mint struck coins for Panama using U. S. blanks. 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. This specimen was lot 1663 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 21 (Winter Park, FL, May 2017), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Panama, proof copper-nickel clad copper 1 balboa, 1982, Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Bright mirror Proof (but not cameo) with minor imperfections but no marks, scarce as from a mintage of only 500 pieces. Pedigreed to the Richard Stuart collection."
Recorded mintage: 500.
Specification: 22.68 g, copper-nickel, 38.1 mm diameter, this specimen 22.70 grams.
Catalog reference: KM-39.1.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel F., Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction #21, featuring Selections from the Richard Stuart Collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.
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