Panama's 1982 pattern issues were produced in the context of ongoing numismatic program development following the country's transition toward greater monetary independence from the United States dollar system. The Uraca designation references the harpy eagle's indigenous name, used across several Panamanian commemorative and pattern programs of this period. Piefort construction — double the normal planchet thickness — was standard practice for presentation and archive specimens, not circulation trials.
The .400 fine gold composition is unusually low for a piefort pattern, suggesting this was struck for archival or diplomatic gifting purposes rather than as a serious coinage proposal.
Panama's 1982 pattern issues were produced in the context of ongoing numismatic program development following the country's transition toward greater monetary independence from the United States dollar system. The Uraca designation references the harpy eagle's indigenous name, used across several Panamanian commemorative and pattern programs of this period. Piefort construction — double the normal planchet thickness — was standard practice for presentation and archive specimens, not circulation trials.
The .400 fine gold composition is unusually low for a piefort pattern, suggesting this was struck for archival or diplomatic gifting purposes rather than as a serious coinage proposal.