Panama – 1978 – 500 Balboas – 30th Anniversary OAS – Gold – PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo

Panama – 1978 FM – 500 Balboas: This large-format gold coin was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of American States. Founded in 1948, the OAS aims to promote cooperation, security, and political understanding among the nations of the Americas.

This issue commemorates an internationally significant occasion and boasts a gross weight of 41.7 grams, a fineness of 900/1000, and the highest possible grade of PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo. According to the current PCGS Population Report, this specimen is also a top pop with a population of only 1.

30 Years of the Organization of American States

The Organization of American States, or OAS, was founded in 1948 with the signing of its charter in Bogotá. The commemorative coin references this founding year as well as the anniversary year of 1978.

The central theme of the issue is the political and geographical interconnectedness of the states of North, Central, and South America. This idea is expressed on the coin not through individual figures, but through the shared depiction of the American double continent.

The motif side

The front of the card shows a large globe with North, Central, and South America. Lines of longitude and latitude form a geographical grid against which the continents stand out clearly.

The above inscription reads:

UNITED AMERICAS

The inscription is located at the bottom:

1948 FUNDACION DE LA OEA 1978

The design thus directly references the unity of the American states and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the OAS.

The coat of arms page

The other side shows the coat of arms of the Republic of Panama. Above the shield is an eagle with outstretched wings. The inscription bears the Panamanian motto:

PRO MUNDI BENEFICIO

The inscription around the perimeter names the issuing country:

REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Below the coat of arms are the following details:

900/1000 ORO FINO

500 BALBOAS

This means that the fineness of the gold and the face value are directly documented on the coin.

41.7 grams of gold

The coin has a gross weight of 41.7 grams and is made of gold with a fineness of 900/1000. This results in a fine gold weight of 37.53 grams, or approximately 1.2066 troy ounces.

With a diameter of 46 mm, it is one of the particularly large modern gold coins of Panama. The large format provides ample space for the designs and enhances the contrast between the reflective fields and the matte design elements.

Minted by the Franklin Mint

The coin was minted in 1978 by the Franklin Mint. The mint mark FM can be seen on the obverse, below the state coat of arms.

The Franklin Mint produced numerous high-quality commemorative issues for Central American and Caribbean countries during the 1970s and 1980s. This 500-Balboas issue was specifically produced as a sophisticated proof coin for the international collector market.

Only 2,009 coins

The mintage of the proof edition was only 2,009 pieces. Even without certification, this makes it a relatively rare modern gold coin from Panama.

The combination of low mintage, high gold weight, international commemorative occasion and large-format proof minting makes the issue particularly interesting for collectors of modern Latin American gold coins.

PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo

PCGS rated this specimen PR70 Deep Cameo .

PR70 is the highest possible rating on the PCGS scale. It denotes a proof strike where no defects resulting from the manufacturing process are visible, even under magnification.

The Deep Cameo designation confirms a particularly pronounced contrast between the reflective fields and the matte motifs. This contrast is clearly evident in both the world map and the detailed national coat of arms.

According to the current PCGS Population Report, this is the only example of this coin type in PR70 Deep Cameo. Therefore, it is a top-pop specimen with a population of 1 .

Technical Overview

Country of issue: Panama

Year of publication: 1978

Mint mark: FM

Face value: 500 Balboas

Occasion: 30th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of American States

Metal: Gold

Fineness: 900/1000

Gross weight: 41.7 g

Fine gold weight: 37.53 g

Fine gold content: approx. 1.2066 oz

Diameter: 46 mm

Minting quality: Proof

Mint: Franklin Mint

Mintage: 2,009

Certification: PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo

Top Pop: yes

PCGS Population: 1

PCGS number: 401316

PCGS certificate number: 64222846

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