The currency of Panama is the balboa which is pegged to the rate of the US $...Now Panama has a lot of silver coins with some coins such as the $20 containing over 3ozs silver. I have some sets myself, great looking coins. Do any US stackers buy these coins and if so how much do they pay and are they easy to procure? Hoping for more information from US members. Regards Errol 43
I've got a slabbed 1905 50-centesimos. Looks great, IMO. The more-rare of the original first 2 years. But that's the extent of it. Not much other interest, except a passing fancy of a 70's Balboa. Seems like there's at least some interest in these, usually the 1930's & up, per YouTube videos. I believe stackers in the US get them (lower-grade raw) from eBay & LCS's.
Having never heard of a Balboa I Googled it to see what the look like. Then I typed "Balboa coin". How much silver content?
I buy them when I can get them cheap relative to spot. I have a handful of them from the 30s-40s and a few quarter balboa's from the 60's that look brand new. I haven't seen any in a while though. The silver content is the same as the US silver dollars for Balboa's made up to 1974 per the article in the link. Some interesting facts: http://www.coinquest.com/cgi-bin/cq/coins?main_coin=1907 Jim
They're rare here and their liquidity and premium levels here are limited. Many professional show vendors and LCS's buy/sell them as generic rounds and look at you funny if you're trying to sell them.
I have one that's about the size of a US dime. I don't remember where it came from to be honest. It is a nice little coin and I wouldn't mind more if I could get them around spot. I don't see them that often here in Maryland (north of Washington DC for those not familliar with US geography) but I don't look for them either. Thanks for reminding me about them
Sterling silver 92.5%...A $20 balboa has over 3.5oz silver....I have been lucky to get proof collector sets containing $20,10,5 and two or three smaller denominational coins (total silver content around 5.5ozs) Regards Errol 43
The older Balboas that were actual circulating currency were 90% silver and the coins were the same weight as the US silver coins from the same era. I guess when they started making more "commemorative" type coins they went to sterling. Jim
Being from the US, I have a few raw Balboas that are in my world silver coin collection. Their premiums are high if you buy off e bay as well as the mexican centavos, australian schilling, german mark, israel lirrot and any silver chinese coin. I hope to get pics up of my slowly growing world silver coin collection ST
I remembered this thread a few days back at the LCS , figured they were worth getting. Last week ( Spot 15.50 ish before the dip ) I grabbed a bunch of the huge 20 Balboa coins dated in the 70's for melt value. http://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/panama-20-balboas-km-31-1972-1976-cuid-6286-duid-22327 ( Why don't the 71's make the NGC list in the link above ? I got both MS and PF 71's ) 1 circulated 71 ( This one just became my new pocket coin ) 1 factory sealed roll of ten 1971's Like this... http://www.apmex.com/product/77925/panama-silver-20-balboas-original-10-coin-rolls-bu-asw-38-54 13 proof coins ranging from 71-76 Paid 60 a piece for the lot
I too have just purchased a proof set of balboas with a total weight of 5.6ozs ASW. THE set comes with a COA... Total cost $150 AU...The large balboas are a favourite of mine and I am always on the lookout for them at my local silver shop. Regards Errol 43
Have quite a few of them - nice coins. I like the ones from the 1980's (1980-1985). They are only 50% silver but are quite uncommon.
