RTD-Tech
Jr. Member
Thought some of you here on the coin forum might appreciate this. It's a tiny coin from Panama around 1904. Funny that they use American money here now. It belongs to my translator, it's his lucky coin.
1904 Panamanian coin
- Thread starter RTD-Tech
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Holt0222
Hero Member
That’s one tiny coin indeed. I would have lost it so easily.
- Oct 26, 2004
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Some history:
In 1904,Panama silver coins in denominations of 2 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]2[/SUB], 5, 10, 25, and 50 centésimos were introduced. These coins were weight-related to the 25-gram 50 centésimos, making the 2 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]2[/SUB]-centésimos coin 1.25 grams. Its small size led to it being known as the "Panama pill" or the "Panama pearl".
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_balboa
Don.,
In 1904,Panama silver coins in denominations of 2 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]2[/SUB], 5, 10, 25, and 50 centésimos were introduced. These coins were weight-related to the 25-gram 50 centésimos, making the 2 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]2[/SUB]-centésimos coin 1.25 grams. Its small size led to it being known as the "Panama pill" or the "Panama pearl".
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_balboa
Don.,
Plumbata
Bronze Member
Very nice coin, I've bid on several but haven won one yet. It's definitely a great lucky coin.
As Mackaydon already stated, the weight standard at the time was double that of other currencies, which was quite confusing at first before I realized what was going on. It's sad that they never struck a full 50 gram silver Balboa, but at least we have the very interesting 2.5c Panama pills to enjoy.
Regardng "tiny coins", the ancient Greeks had some obnoxiously small silver; minuscule and easily-lost "small change" that were replaced by more manageable larger fiat bronze coins in the 4th century BC.
Here's a few of mine at 4mm in diameter and 1/10th of a gram on what I used to regard as a small silver; the 3 cent piece. I'm waiting on another one that is only 0.06g!
As Mackaydon already stated, the weight standard at the time was double that of other currencies, which was quite confusing at first before I realized what was going on. It's sad that they never struck a full 50 gram silver Balboa, but at least we have the very interesting 2.5c Panama pills to enjoy.
Regardng "tiny coins", the ancient Greeks had some obnoxiously small silver; minuscule and easily-lost "small change" that were replaced by more manageable larger fiat bronze coins in the 4th century BC.
Here's a few of mine at 4mm in diameter and 1/10th of a gram on what I used to regard as a small silver; the 3 cent piece. I'm waiting on another one that is only 0.06g!
