1 Centésimo Copper Plated Zinc

Panama switched to copper-plated zinc for its centésimo in 1983, mirroring the U.S. cent's composition change that Lincoln cents underwent in 1982 — a direct consequence of rising copper prices making the metal content of small-denomination coins approach or exceed face value. The timing was not coincidental: Panama's monetary system is structurally tied to the U.S. dollar, with Panamanian coins functioning as fractional currency alongside American coinage in everyday transactions.

The two-year production window before this type was superseded makes surviving examples modest in number, though not scarce.