Panama Silver Coin Value Calculator
Panama produced a number of silver coins in the
20th Century, from the tiny 2.5c 'Panamanian Pill' in 1904 right up to
the massive 20 Balboa coins of the 1970's containing nearly 4 ounces of
silver. Panama's coins used the US 90% silver standard up until 1966
when they reverted to clad coinage. The large 20 balboa coins and proof
1 balboa coins of the 1970's were not intended to circulate and adhered
to the sterling (92.5%) silver standard.
Panamanian Coins
Panama only started issuing its own coins after independence from coloumbia in 1903. In the days of Spanish control, Panama City was a main shipping centre for plundered gold and silver from Latin America, and is seems appropriate therefore that Panama has produced a number of attractive, often very large, silver coins.
In 1904, silver coins in denominations of 2½, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centésimos were introduced. These coins were weight related to the 25 gram 50 centésimos, making the 2½ centésimos coin 1¼ grams. Its small size led to it being known as the "Panama Pill" or "Panama Pearl". In 1907, cupro-nickel ½ and 2½ centésimos coins were introduced, followed by cupro-nickel 5 centésimos in 1929. In 1930, coins for 1⁄10, ¼ and ½ balboa were introduced, followed by 1 balboa in 1931, which were identical in size and composition to the corresponding U.S. coins. In 1935, bronze 1 centésimo coins were introduced, with 1¼ centésimos pieces minted in 1940.
In 1966, Panama followed the U.S. in changing the composition of their silver coins, with cupro-nickel-clad-copper 1⁄10 and ¼ balboa and .400 fineness ½ balboa. 1 balboa coins were issued that year for the first time since 1947. In 1973, cupro-nickel-clad-copper ½ balboa were introduced. Further issues of the 1 balboa have been made since 1982 in cupro-nickel without reducing the size.
Modern 1 and 5 centésimos and 1⁄10, ¼ and ½ balboa coins are the same weight, dimensions and composition as the U.S. cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half-dollar, respectively.
In addition to the circulating issues, commemorative coins with denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 and 500 balboas have been issued.
Specifications
Denomination | Diameter | Weight | Fineness | Silver Content
|
1 Balboa | 37.5 | 26.73 | .900 | .7735
|
5 Balboas 1970 | 39 | 35.7000 | .925 | 1.0617
|
20 Balboas | 61 | 129.5900 | .925 | 3.8544
|
Notes
Denomination = Face Value of Coin
Diameter = Diameter in millimetres
Weight = Total weight in grams
Fineness = Proportion of silver
Silver Content = Actual fine silver content in troy ounces.