1/2 Balboa Pattern, Uniface Reverse, Piefort

Obverse description	The national coat of arms of Panama is centrally depicted, featuring the traditional quartered shield with symbols of national sovereignty. An arc of nine five-pointed stars appears above the arms, with the country name legend arching along the upper periphery. An ornamental wreath frames the lower portion of the design, with the date 1982 inscribed in the exergue. The motto PRO MUNDI BENEFICIO is rendered in the legend, reflecting Panama's role as a crossroads of the world.
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Edge	Plain
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Additional information	Panama's 1982 coinage patterns were produced in connection with ongoing discussions about the country's relationship with its circulating currency, much of which remained the U.S. dollar in practical everyday use. Piefort patterns in gold from this period are vanishingly rare — struck at double the normal planchet thickness, they were never intended for circulation and exist almost entirely as presentation or archival pieces. The uniface reverse — blank on one side — suggests this was a trial of the obverse die only, not a complete design proof. At .400 fine, the gold alloy is notably low for a presentation piece.