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5 Balboas, Central Bank of Issue of the Republic of Panama, Panama, 1941 (Pick 23)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1941

Issuing entity

Panama

This 5 Balboas note was issued in Panama by the Central Bank of Issue of the Republic of Panama, dated 1941. It belongs to the Balboa (1904-date) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Republic (1903-date). It measures 158 × 67 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 23.

Obverse: On the left we see a picture of a statue of Urracá who was a Cacique (which translates to a king or a prince) in the region of present-day Panama who fought effectively against the Spanish conquistadors. Captured at one point, Urracá managed to escape a ship bound for Spain and rejoin his own people. He continued to lead the fight against the Spanish until he was killed in battle in 1531. Its lettering reads “MONEDA FIDUCIARIA DE CURSO LEGAL / CONSTE POR ESTE BILLETE QUE HAY DEPOSITADOS EN / EL BANCO CENTRAL DE EMISION DE LA / REPUBLICA DE PANAMA / CINCO BALBOAS / PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR A SOLICITUD”.

Reverse: In the center we see the coat of arms of Panama. Its lettering reads “REPUBLICA DE PANAMA / CINCO BALBOAS”. The note was printed by Hamilton Bank Note Company (HBNC), New York City, United States. Demonetized: 9 October 1941. Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
2

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Issued by the Central Bank of Issue of the Republic of Panama ( El Banco Central de Emisión de la República de Panamá ), through Article 156 of the Constitution of Panama, as enacted by President Arnulfo Arias on September 30, 1941. The bank was authorized to issue up to 6,000,000 balboas worth of paper notes, but only 2,700,000 balboas were issued on October 2, 1941. One week later, Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia Arango replaced Arnulfo Arias as president in a coup d'état supported by the United States. The new government immediately closed the bank, withdrew the issued notes and burned all of remaining unissued notes. Very few of the so-called "Arias Seven-Day" notes escaped incineration.

Physical characteristics

Size
158 × 67 mm
Shape
Rectangular
Material
Paper

Technical characteristics

Printer
Hamilton Bank Note Company (HBNC), New York City, United States
Currency
Balboa (1904-date)
Demonetized
9 October 1941
Issuing bank
Central Bank of Issue of the Republic of Panama

Design

Obverse
On the left we see a picture of a statue of Urracá who was a Cacique (which translates to a king or a prince) in the region of present-day Panama who fought effectively against the Spanish conquistadors. Captured at one point, Urracá managed to escape a ship bound for Spain and rejoin his own people. He continued to lead the fight against the Spanish until he was killed in battle in 1531.
Reverse
In the center we see the coat of arms of Panama.
Obverse lettering
MONEDA FIDUCIARIA DE CURSO LEGAL / CONSTE POR ESTE BILLETE QUE HAY DEPOSITADOS EN / EL BANCO CENTRAL DE EMISION DE LA / REPUBLICA DE PANAMA / CINCO BALBOAS / PAGADEROS AL PORTADOR A SOLICITUD
Reverse lettering
REPUBLICA DE PANAMA / CINCO BALBOAS

Identification

Value
5 Balboas
Dates recorded
1941
Distinguishing features
Printed date and signature combination separate sub-varieties
Catalogue number to match
Pick 23

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

  • Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (Pick)P23
  • NumistaN# 223678

Research required

  • Confirm date and signature varieties against the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.
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