Panama 1, 2 1/2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Centesimos (Famous People) 1975 to 1985

Panama did a neat thing between 1975 and 1982. They issued small denomination coins with various famous people on the front. The back is common to all denominations (Panamanian Coat of Arms) and the front:

1 centesimo: Urraca, native chief hero
2 1/2 centesimos: Victoriano Lorenzo, hero
5 centesimos: Carlos J. Finaly, physician
10 centesimos: Manuel E Amador, president
25 centesimos: Justo Arosemena, statesman
50 centesimos: Fernando de Lesseps, developer

The coins dated 1978 carry annotation: 75th Anniversario. All are made of copper nickel, except the 1 centesimo with Urraca which is made of copper plated zinc.

Just about all of these coins carry low value, but there are several which stand out, as shown in our listings below. This page applies only to coins with the famous people on the front. Other coins with other patterns were produced during the 1975 to 1982 period, but this page does not apply to them.

1 CENTESIMO WITH URRACA
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculted: $1
1 centesimo coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $5

2 1/2 CENTESIMO WITH VICTORIANO LORENZO
worn: $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $2
well preserved: $3
fully uncirculted: $5
2 1/2 centesimos coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $8
2 1/2 centesimos dated after 1982 catalog at $15

5 CENTESIMO WITH CARLOS J. FINLAY
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculted: $3
5 centesimos coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $6
5 centesimos coins dated 1982 are more rare and catalog at $25 in well preserved condition

10 CENTESIMO WITH MANUEL E. AMADORE
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculted: $3
10 centesimos coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $10

25 CENTESIMO WITH JUSTO AROSEMENA
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: less than $1
fully uncirculted: $3
25 centesimos coins dated 1975 are a little more valuable, $1 in average circulated
25 centesimos coins dated after 1978 are a little more valuable, $2 in average circulated
25 centesimos coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $10

50 CENTESIMO WITH FERNANDO DE LESSEPS
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $3
fully uncirculted: $10
50 centesimos coins dated before 1977 are a little less valuable
50 centesimos coins dated after 1976 are a little more valuable
50 centesimos coins dated 1980 with 1830 BOLIVAR 1980 on the edge catalog at $12

All the values on this page are catalog values, not actual buy and sell values. To convert between the two, see our Terminology page.
cqLastNotify