Hello all, I have inherited a small paper and coin currency collection. I don't know much about either of these. Anyways, I have about an 8 to 10 coin collection of Panamanian Balboa coins. They all appear to be in remarkably good condition.Not sure if the year matters on these or if its relevant but the larger coins that say VN. CVARTO-DE BALBOA are from the years 1966, 1970,1968, 1973...i have multiples from each of those years, and then i have smaller coins that say VN.Decimo from those years as well. Just looking for any helpful info people can provide. Thanks.
The DECIMO is a dime. Literally 1/10 of a Balboa. The QVARTO (quarto) is a quarter. 1/4 of a Balboa. I normally would not make such outright comparisons to US coins as calling a World coin a "dime" or a "quarter", but it's the literal truth in this case, as these coins were struck for Panama by the US Mint, on US dime, quarter, and half-dollar blanks. The full 1-Balboa coins of that period were struck on copper-nickel blanks used for the US Eisenhower dollars. You'll note the clad "sandwich" layers if you look at the edge, just as it is on US coins. The earlier Balboas and their fractions were struck on 90% silver planchets like US silver coins of the time.
Interesting. Although I suppose that makes perfect sense due to the fact that the histories of panama and the us are kind of inextricably linked especially during the time period leading up to the construction of the panama canal all the way until modern times basically. I heard somewhere that these coins have a high silver content. Is that true?
Yes, it is no coincidence that Panama's coinage has ties to the USA. High silver content? No, not in these 1966 and later pieces. They are copper-nickel-clad copper. But the earlier 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and 1-Balboas were struck in 90% silver like pre-1965 US dimes through dollars were. Unsurprisingly, Panama also has 1-centesimo and 5-centesimos coins to match the US cents and nickels.
huh, yeah one thing I noticed is that it seems like either the usa or england had quite a large hand in producing currency for countries all over the world for quite a number of years. Off hand do you know what kind of value the Balboas have, I think I have around 11 total, all from the mid to late 60's 7 of the 25 cent pieces and 3 of the smaller ones.
I gave you links to the NGC/KM price guide above. Yes, the mints of larger, developed nations have a long history of striking the coins of smaller client countries under contract. In fact, the clients are not always smaller countries. For example, you'll see the "A" mintmark of Paris on a number of 19th century World coins, and not just those from France. The Paris mint struck coins for Italy and probably dozens of other nations and their colonies.
whoops, must have missed that link. Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it. I have just a whole bunch of other coins...large collection of wheat pennies, random international coin currency as well as some error pennis I have 0 clue on the value of. Do you happen to know anything about that stuff as well.....the error penny values has been the hardest to figure out.
I'm no error specialist, though I've owned a few pieces. I've dabbled in a lot of different stuff across a pretty wide spectrum (World, Ancient, US) and am happy to help. (I'm semi-clueless on paper money and Far Eastern or Islamic coins, though.) Of course there are plenty of other folks here who can provide knowledge as well.
