Panama 1985-FM 5 balboas
This specimen was lot 3305 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $216. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA: Republic, AR 5 balboas, 1985-FM, Discovery of the Pacific Ocean, NGC graded Proof 68 Ultra Cameo." This denomination was first used for large silver commemoratives in 1970 and the Franklin Mint issued all of them until 1985. 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. We don't know why the Franklin Mint, having gone to the trouble of designing and marketing such an impressive silver coin, chose to use 0.500 fine silver. This only speeded up the tarnishing process.
Recorded mintage: 765 proofs.
Specification: 23.33 g, 0.500 fine silver, 39 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM-104.
- 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.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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