Catalog
1/10 De Balboa Pattern, Uniface Obverse, Piefort
| Issuer | Panama |
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| Year | 1982 |
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| In circulation to | 1982 |
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| Obverse description | Armoured bust of Vasco Nunez de Balboa facing left, the effigy extending to touch the rim, with a laurel wreath positioned below the portrait. The denomination legend appears above the bust, arching along the upper periphery of the field. This uniface piefort pattern presents the obverse design in heightened relief consistent with piefort striking, emphasising the fine detail of the armour and facial features. |
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| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Panama's 1982 pattern issues were produced as test strikes ahead of proposed coinage reforms, and the piefort format — double the standard planchet thickness — was used specifically to evaluate die relief and metal flow under increased striking pressure. A uniface strike retaining only the obverse die suggests this piece was made to assess that side's design in isolation, likely at an early stage before paired dies were finalized. The .400 fine gold composition is unusually low for a pattern of this type, pointing toward a deliberately debased alloy intended to simulate production economics rather than produce a precious presentation piece.