Catalog
20 Balboas Simon Bolivar
| Issuer | Panama |
|---|---|
| Year | 1980 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field displays the national coat of arms of Panama, featuring a shield with various heraldic elements, flanked by cornucopia and an eagle displayed above. The country name REPUBLICA DE PANAMA arcs along the upper legend, while the motto PRO MUNDI BENEFICIO appears on a scroll across the shield. The fineness LEY 0.500 and the mint mark FM are inscribed below the arms, with the denomination 20 BALBOAS along the lower rim. |
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLICA DE PANAMA ********* PRO MUNDI BENEFICIO LEY 0.500 FM 20 BALBOAS (Translation: Republic of Panama For the Benefit of the World 0.500 Purity) |
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| Additional information |
Panama's 20 Balboa series was produced under contract by the Franklin Mint during the 1970s and early 1980s, part of a broader wave of large-format silver issues marketed heavily to collectors rather than intended for any circulation. The 1980 Bolívar piece falls within this run, issued the same year Panama was navigating the transitional period following the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which had set the Canal handover process in motion.
At .500 fineness, the actual silver content sits well below what collectors sometimes assume for a coin of this size and weight. Franklin Mint's involvement in these issues is well documented, and striking quality was generally consistent — though the series has never commanded strong secondary market premiums relative to its silver melt value.