Panamanian 1/10 balboa coin

Panamanian ¹⁄₁₀ balboa coin

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1⁄10 balboa
Coin from 1970
General information
Country	Panama
Value	0.10 balboa
Years	1930–1947 1953 1961–1962 1966–1993 1996–2008
Measurements and composition
Mass	Click to 2.5 g (1930, 1953, 1961, 1962 issues) 2.27 g (1966 and 1996 series)
Diameter	17.9 mm
Composition	Click to Silver (1930, 1953, 1961, 1962 issues) Cupronickel (1966 and 1996 series)
Appearance
Shape	round
Alignment	coin
Obverse	coat of arms of Panama, year
Reverse	Vasco Núñez de Balboa
v · d · e

The ¹⁄₁₀ balboa coin was first issued by Panama in 1930. New issues were made in 1953, 1961, 1966, and 1996. During 1962, the original coin was reintroduced. Today, these coins are still found in circulation and are equal to 0.10 balboas.

History

A silver ¹/₁₀ balboa coin from 1947.

The first coins of this denomination were minted in 1930 after the production of the original 10 centesimo coin had ceased. These were composed of .900 fine silver. All of the coins of the same value followed the example of the design, showing Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Panamanian hero, on the obverse with the value in Spanish above ("UN DECIMO DE BALBOA"; English: "one tenth of a balboa"). On the reverse was the coat of arms of Panama with the state title, "Republica de Panama" above and the year of minting below. This design was also passed down to the following coins. During 1934, the coins ceased circulation, with a total of 5,525,040 coins minted between this time and 1930. In 1947, the coins were reintroduced with a mintage of 1,000,000 coins, and then production quickly halted again. Finally, in 1962 the coins were reintroduced again for a year with a total mintage of 5,000,025 coins. A similar coin was minted in 1961, but on this coin, Balboa's morion is more detailed. About 2,500,000 of these 1961 coins were produced.

In 1953, a commemorative coin was introduced in commemoration of 50 years since Panama's independence from Colombia. It was composed of .900 silver like the former coins, and it bore the same dimensions and mass as the originals. There was no difference in the design of the commemorative coin but the addition of the text under Vasco Núñez de Balboa, which read, "CINCUENTENARIO" (English: "fiftieth anniversary"). A total of 3,300,000 coins were produced.

During 1966, the first cupronickel coins were produced. These coins have retained the original diameter of ¹/₁₀ balboa coins, but due to the use of a lighter metal, the mass has been reduced to 2.27 grams. The design of both the obverse and reverse remains unchanged. These coins ceased production in 1993, but were reintroduced in 1996, and have been minted in 2001 and 2008 as well. Though these coins have not been minted in three years, they are still being issued.

Gallery

The 1953 commemorative coin.

The 1961 coin with the detailed morion.

References

• Numista: 1/10 Balboa — Panama 1930–1962
• Numista: 1/10 Balboa — Panama 1953
• Numista: 1/10 Balboa — Panama 1961
• Numista: 1/10 Balboa — 1966–1993
• Numista: 1/10 Balboa — 1996–2008