Catalog
20 Balboas Figure 8 Butterfly
| Issuer | Panama |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLICA DE PANAMA ********* PRO MUNDI BENEFICIO FM 500/1000 ORO FINO 20 BALBOAS (Translation: Republic of Panama For the Benefit of the World 500/1000 Fine Gold) |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Panama's 1981 gold issues were struck under contract by the Franklin Mint during a period when the country was producing an unusual volume of collector-targeted coinage — a revenue strategy that accelerated sharply after the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties transferred Canal Zone jurisdiction and opened new avenues for national image-building. The .500 fineness is deliberately low for a gold issue of this type, keeping material costs down while maintaining the nominal gold designation.
The Figure 8 Butterfly (Heliconius charitonius) is native to Central America and carries biological significance — it is one of the few Lepidoptera known to feed on pollen as an adult, extending its lifespan well beyond that of most butterflies.