This is a very scarce coin with original mintage of 77 pieces and comes up for sale only infrequently; the proof much more common but appearing to be rising in price as well. The only downside is the design on reverse of Mr. Lesseps is not as appealing as the earlier Balboa or later Native American designs. Apologize for the photos through the holder which was scratched and there is a wood chip or something inside the holder on reverse side.
LOL I had to correct myself as the coat of arms on Panama is generally considered obverse even with M. Lesseps unbeautiful self/portrait.
As I have been looking at your coin posts... do you only collect low mintage coins no matter what they look like ? I have some low mintage coins, but they all have eye appeal. I am not mocking you at all... just wondering is all ?
Well, no, I go for aesthetics first. However I love the challenge of chasing down all the avenues for rarer coins. My favorite coin is the West African States 1982 5000 CFA gold essai (large format). I also like the cocle "Indian" designs of Panama (see the 100 Balboa of Panama 1981-84).
Of course I always like completing series as well and this was the last 100 Balboa Franklin Mint coin - precisely because I did NOT like the design & passed on the Stuart specimen sold some years ago.
Funny thing is that I continuously find myself in contest with the late (?) Richard Stuart's collection - a fruitless task as he had one of the finest collections of Panama ever put together as was his British Honduras set, amongst others. He ran a complete set of the 500 Balboas, and I do not have even a single example!
