Panama 1988 50 balboas KMX-9
This specimen was lot 34448 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it sold for $1,680. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA. Platinum Off-Metal Strike 50 Balboa, 1988. Olympic Series, Figure Skating. NGC PROOF-68 Ultra Cameo. An intriguing and striking issue in Platinum that differs considerably from the gold issues of the type, this entrancing 50 Balboas boasts an enormous RARITY, and is certain to capture much attention." The SCWC consigns this series (KM X1 thru X12) to the Unusual World Coins, and likely rightly so, as it doesn't appear to have been an authorized issue. We don't think the most corrupt government minister would have allowed the denomination to be written "50.00 VNBALBOAS". Strikes in gold are mentioned but not platinum.
Recorded mintage: est. 5,000.
Specification: 8.4 g, 0.585 fine gold, 24.50 mm diameter. This specimen is platinum, weight unknown.
Catalog reference: Fr-36 (in gold); cf. KMX-9 (gold).
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Link to:
- 1985-FM 20 balboas, discovery of the Pacific Ocean
- 1985-FM 500 balboas, Golden Eagle
- 1988 balboa, Calgary Winter Olympics, ski jumping, struck in platinum
- 1988 balboa, Calgary Winter Olympics, free-style skiing, struck in platinum
- 1988 balboa, Calgary Winter Olympics, biathlon, struck in platinum
- 1988 balboa, Calgary Winter Olympics, ice hockey, struck in platinum
- Coins and currency dated 1988