Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
November 2015 Baltimore Auction - Sess. A-C 5-6 November 2015
View prices realized
The motif on the front is of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Spanish born explorer and conquistador who was among those who established Darien, Panama. He served as interim governor and also was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
The denomination itself is named after Balboa. To our knowledge, this is the only form of currency named after a specific person. The value of 1 Balboa breaks down into 100 Centesimos and has carried a foreign exchange rate equivalent to the U.S dollar since it replaced the peso in 1904. Minor rust on the back prevents a EPQ designation, but everything else about the note seems fully original.
PMG About Uncirculated 55.