virginiacollection - Panama Medals

  • Panama Medals

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Description

Collection of Panama and Canal Zone related medals. The medals  are listed in date order.  Metal ID checks, tokens, and military pieces will be listed in separate categories.  The listing includes both vintage and modern medals.  Reference to various catalogs will be made where known.  To see a clear,  larger image just click onto the photo.  At this time 87 different medals and a couple related items are shown in 85 listings. Note: this is a long term, ongoing project with perhaps another 100 medals to list.***Collection is kept in the bank, and future additions will be made to the listing as photos are taken and posted periodicly.

85 items (showing items 1–20)

1880 Compagnie Universelle Du Canal Interoceanique, Silver. France, 1880. Obverse shows a woman representing Panama Canal bringing together Poseiden figures representing the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans against 2 lighthouses in the background.  The legend reads Percement De Listhme De Panama.  The reverse reads Canal / De Panama / Compagnie Universelle / Du Canal Interoceanique / 7, 8 Et 9 Decembre 1880 / A Ses Souscripteurs / La Banque / Parisienne.  On the edge cornucopia horn and argent (represents Paris, France mint, and struck in silver).  Designed by Roty, French engraver.  Struck for bank subscribers for the Panama Canal venture.  Size 34 mm, and weight 21.05 grams.

Provenance:

  • Presidential Coin & Antique Company; January 8, 1986, Sale #39, lot #1101
 
ca 1882-94 Venezuela Panama Gold Mine Company. Panama, ca 1882 to 1894. Obverse has Gold Mine Co in the center with Venezuela Panama above and Limited below.  The reverse is blank.  No denominatoin listed.  May be considered a medal, but has long been listed in token catalogs including:  Rulau #Pan30; Plowman #PT670.1 and Catalogo Numismatico De Panama #F-289.  I am listing in boh the medal and token categories.  The company in business 1882, had financial difficulties in 1887, in voluntary liquidation 1894, and struck off the register in 1905.  Brass, size 27 mm, and 30.5 at the diagnols, and weight 7.12 grams.  In collecting Panama for over 47 years this is the only specimen I have observed.  The photo used in reference catalogs is this very token, taken from the Jess Peters auction catalog.  The photo here is of that very token, which has been in my collection since 1975.

Provenance:

  • Jess Peters Auction; January 9, 1975, lot #221
  • ex-Dr. Edward A. Majilton collection
 
ca 1890's Gans, H., Colon, Joyeria Y Relojeria. Panama, ca 1890's. The obverse has H. Gans Colon in the center with a design to either side of H.  Above and around Joyeria Y Relojeria (Jewelers & Watchmatkers).  There are three small stars positioned to the left, right and below Colon.  The reverse shows a design.  There is no date or denomination.  This piece has long been collected as part of Panama tokens, but may more properly be considered a medal.  I am not certain when it was issued and the listing of 1890's may or may not be correct.   However, an April 11, 1899 auction catalog of A. Wely, Berlin under Colon, lists H. Gans, K. 10 & 5 Centavos ohne Jahr. 24 & 23 mm, Stplgl.  Since it is documented that two tokens date to at least 1899 or prior, I assume this medal is from that time frame also. Further research is indicated.  The size is just under 23 mm, and weight 3.81 grams.

Provenance:

  • Jess Peters Auction; January 9, 1975, lot #199
  • Dr. Edward Majilton
 
1904 - 1914 Panama Canal Service Medal (1912-1914). United States / Canal Zone, 1914. The medal was issued to U.S. Workers that completed 2 years continuous service building the Panama Canal.  This medal is engraved to G. R. Welch for work from 1912 to 1914, and serial number 7323.  There were 7423 medals issued and of those 7391 were awarded.  This medal being serial number 7323 was one of the very last medals awarded. The obverse shows a portrait of President Theordore Roosevelt facing left.  The legend reads For Two Years Continvovs Service On The Panama Canal / G. R. Welch.  The reverse shows a cut thru the Canal with ships going thru.  Above the words The Land Divided The World United.  The legend reads Presented By The President Of The United States.  The medal was designed by V. D. Brenner, who also designed the Lincoln cent.  The medal is suspended from a broach.  Struck at the Philadelphia Mint from French scrap bronze used in the French failed attempt to build the Canal.  The size is 30mm and the broach approx 12 x 30 mm, and weight 18.51 grams of all together.

Provenance:

  • Herbert Bardes; October 27, 1972
 
1904-1914 Panama Canal Service Medal (1909-1913) With Two Years Bar. United States / Canal Zone, 1913. Similar medal description to one listed previously, but this one with a Two Years bar added.  The medal was awarded to A.T. Livingston for service 1909-11.  The two years bar is numbered 2910 and awarded for the years 1911-13.  For every two years of work an employee was awarded an additional two years bar.  Up to 4 two years bars are possible.  Size 30 mm, broach 12 x 30 mm, and the two years bar 7 mm at thinest height and 32 mm across.  Weight is 19.95 grams overall. .

Provenance:

  • David Lee; May 21, 1973
 
1904 - 1914 Panama Canal Service Medal, Unissued. United States / Canal Zone. This medal is similar to the medal listed above, but is unissued.  A small number of medals were reserved as replacements for lost medals that were issued / awarded.  Size is 30 mm and weight 13.88 grams.  While the awarded medals including those with one or more two year bars appear for sale periodicly,  I have only seen 2 or 3 of the unawarded medals in the past approximately 40 years.  The piece listed here, and one other that I purchased and sold around late 1970's.  Another piece was listed on ebay around 2001, but I am not sure, if was a 3rd piece or a resale of the one I previously sold.  Update: on Ebay 5-6-12 an unawarded medal was sold, which had some condition problems, and may have once been attached to the loop/hanging broach, as evidence of being detached.  Update: StackBowers Auction 11-14-12, lot 211 listed one with a few nicks and rim dents, listed as near uncirculated, but the depression on Roosevelt's shoulder is not metioned.  It did not sell with a $900 reserve.  Further update: That same medal (photo comparision confirms) was listed on Ebay 1-3-13 as a buy-it-now at $1,350 or best offer.  It did sell for a best offer, but the selling price was not listed.

Provenance:

  • David Lee; May 21, 1977
 
1903 Philippe Bunau-Varilla ALS letter Re: Panama Canal, Colombia, Panama, and Nicaragua Canal Alternative. Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla (1859-1940) commonly referred to simply as Philippe Bunau-Varilla and Monsigor Brun Vanilla was a French engineer and soldier.  With the assistance of American lobbyist and lawyer William Nelson Cromwell, Bunau-Varilla greatly influenced the United States decision concerning the construction of the Panama Canal.  He worked closely with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the latter's orchestration of the Panamian Revolution.  This ALS letter is approx 5 1/2" x 7 7/8", when folded, and has watermark that reads N MASS 1900 BOND No / CRANE 8.  It is a wonderful letter mentioning the Panama Canal Treaty, Colombia, Panama, and written only a few months before the ratification of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty.  It is on his personal stationery, dated Paris 16th of June 1903.  It reads:  My Dear Mr. Mitchell, I beg to have you enclosed a cable-gram which I sent last Saturday 13th to the President Marroquin of Colombia.  I hope whey you receive this letterthat the last obstacle in the way of the successful launching of the huge boat will be over.  I need scarcely say that I placed the hypothesis of the Nicaragua Canal, in case of rejection of the treaty, for the lack of a purely logical exposition feel I do not believe any instant that anything but the other hypothesis or something similar will ever take place.  I do not expect to have soon the pleasure to see you again.  I shall as soon as the Panama question is finally decided go South Africa where my address will be Latitude 16 (degrees) South Longitude 16 (degrees) East of Greenich, my kindest regards to M'Dauor (spelling?).  Most faithfully yours P. Bunau-Varilla.  See the next listing, which shows the Bunau-Varilla medal struck to commemorate the treaty referred to in this letter.

Provenance:

  • Tom & Cindy Stone; June 9, 2013
 
1905 Panama Canal Medal, Phlippe Bunau-Varilla. France, 1905. Panama Canal Medal, Phlippe Bunau-Varilla Plaquette, 1905, 76.2 x 61.1 mm, silver, weight 201.3 grams (over 6 ounces), extremely fine, few minor bumps.  By Jules Clement Chaplain, struck at Paris Mint, argent & cornucopia hallmark on edge.  Obverse shows Phlippe Bunau-Varilla in the uniform of the Legion d'Honneur, facing left.  Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty signed Nov. 18, 1903.  Reverse shows a female angel holding a wreath & ship over a map of the proposed route of the Panama Canal.   Bunau-Varilla was the French engineer engaged in early endeavors to construct a Panama Canal (1884-89, 1894).  He was minister from the new Republic of Panama to the U.S. (1903), negotiated the treaty by which the U.S. Acquired control of the Canal Zone.  I know of two additional silver medals, both in a fitted case, one of which will be listed here in the future.  A similar plaquette in bronze in a fitted case was sold by Stack's Americana Auction January 12-14, 2009, lot 5744, sold for $690.   A similar larger bronze plaquette 120 x 95 mm was sold on ebay May 19, 2005 for $1077.  In another auction iNumis 5-26-11, lot 309 listed a 120 mm struck in bronze argente, and realized 3000 EUR ($4221 at time of auction), not including the buyers fee. Click onto the medal and an additonal photo comes up showing the original auction catalog listing from the 1980 Johnson & Jensen Auction.  See the prior Neocollect listing, which shows a letter written by Philippe Bunau-Varilla regarding the Panama Canal Treaty, Colombia, Panama and the Nicaragua Canal alternative.

Provenance:

  • Johnson & Jensen Auction; September 28, 1980, Sale #8, lot #644
 
ca 1908 YMCA Cristobal, C.Z. Duck Pins. Canal Zone / Panama, ca 1908. The obverse shows a YMCA symbol with the words Spirit, Mind, Body.  It is superimposed over other letters.  A couple different branches go around.  The reverse is engraved Cristobal YMCA / Duck Pins / Sixth Place / W.F. Russell.  Below is stamped the manufacturer's hallmark - Int'l Com / Pat / Feb 15 / 97 / YMCA.  Size is irregular round size about 29 mm, holed at top with a couple rings, weight 11.85 grams.  Award is not dated, but patent date predates the similar 1909 medal in this listing.  Thus, I will attribute this medal to 1908 or earlier.

Provenance:

  • Unrecorded Ebay seller; 2002
 
1909 YMCA Empire, C.Z. Pool / Billards. Canal Zone, Panama, 1909. The obverse shows a YMCA symbol with the words Spirit, Mind, Body.  It is superimposed over other letters.  A couple different branches go around.  The reverse side is engraved:  2nd / H. W. Sawtell / Class B / Pool / Empire C.Z. / Jan. 09.   Below is stamped the manufacturer's hallmark - Int'l Com / Pat'd / Sept. 12 / 05 / Y.M.C.A. Sterling.   Size is irregular round, size about 29 mm, holed at top with a couple rings.  Weight is 12.73 grams.  This medal was purchased with a hanger attachment that may not be original to the medal.  This is pictured in a 3rd photo, which can be accessed by clicking onto either of the medal photos.

Provenance:

  • Unrecorded Ebay seller; April 2003
 
1909 Canal Zone Atheletic Meet, Cristobal. Canal Zone / Panama, 1909. Award medal, silver. Obverse shows North and South America.  Above reads Canal Zone Athletic Meet, and below Cristobal July 4, 1909.  The reverse is engraved 2nd / Prize / Run Broad Jump.  Stamped with manufacturer's name & silver fineness:  Sterling / Dieges & Clust / 23 / John St NY.  Medal is scalloped round, size varies from about 32 to 34 mm depending on where measured, holed at top and suspended from a blue, while & red ribbon.  The overall size including the ribbon and medal is about 4".  Overall weight is 20.48 grams.

Provenance:

  • Paul Koppenhaver; November 26, 2004
 
1911 YMCA, Empire, C.Z. Ten Pin Tournament . 1911, Panama / Canal Zone. Silver award medal.  Portrait side shows a seated Miss Liberty holding a flag shield in her left hand, and a wreath in the right hand over bowling pins and ball.  The reverse is engraved High Score / Local Ten Pin / Tournament / YMCA / 1911 / Examiner Of Accounts Team / Empire C.Z. / 233.  Below is the imprint of the manufacturer R.Stoll,NY. And Sterling.  An early award medal for bowling.  Scallped type design, very hgh relief, looped as made with two rings still attached.  Size varies 33 to 34 mm depending where measured, and weight 21.13 grams.

Provenance:

  • Unrecorded Ebay seller; April 2003
 
1913 Cristobal, C.Z. Running High Jump . Canal Zone, Panama, 1913. The obverse shows a view of Panama with Atlantic Ocean above and Pacific Ocean below.  The reverse reads Cristobal.C.Z. / July 4, 1913.   Engraved below is Running / High Jump.   Stamped into the medal is Sterling and below the name of the manufacturer Diegles & Clust, 20 John St. New York.  Seven sided and looped as made, 31 mm at the sides and 38 mm top to bottom.  Weight is 18.04 grams. .

Provenance:

  • Jerome Schaeper, Jr.; June 24, 1994
 
1913 Visit To Panama Canal , Souvenir. Panama, 1913. Hanging medal with medal within encasement, which shows a sailor standing on a dock witht he American Flag to the right and the bow of a ship to the left in the background.  Around the medal reads Visit To Panama Canal 1913.  THe hanger part has an eagle with wings spread open across the word Souvenir.   On the reverese the medal part has the lord's prayer in many lines of small print.  Above the medal on the encasement is stamped the name of the manufacturer, Schwaabs & S / Co / Milwaukee.  The size of the encasement varies 31 to 41 mm depending on where measured due to the shape.  I note there is a wreaith around the edge with crossed rifles.  The medal itself is about 13/16" diameter.  The broach is about 17 x 38 mm.  Weight of all is 16.18 grams.  A similar medal sold on Ebay 4-6-12, but missing the back pin, and realized $350.99.

Provenance:

  • Rich Hartzog; August 14, 1982
 
1913 YMCA Gatun Duck Pin Tournament 1st Prize. Gatun, Canal Zone, Panama, 1913. Obverse shows a modified coat of arms within a circle.  The words Canal Zone above and Panama below.  Around the rim stylized design.  The reverse is engraved 1st Prize / Rag Time / Duck Pin Tournament / February 1918 / Y.M.C.A. Gatun C.Z. / Theo DeMoll / Chas C.G. Wurster.  Stamped with manufacturer's mark +, and Bob.Stoll / N.Y.  Appears to be bronze, size 33 to 34.5 mm, looped at top.  Weight is 16.24 grams.  I note in the publication The Canal Record, March 15, 1915, Vol. VI, No. 28, page 232 there is an article on Gatun and bowling.  It specificly mentions the Isthmian Duckpin League, and the results of the two bowling tournaments recently brought to a close.  It mentions Ragtime duckpin tournament - First Prize, Theo G. DeMoll and Chas G. Wurster, which would be the medal shown here.

Provenance:

  • Jerry Katz; September 29, 2008
 
1913 YMCA Gatun Indoor Baseball Tournament 1st Prize Team Member. 1913, Canal Zone, Panama. The obverse of the medal shows a map of North & South America.  To the left is a baseball player and to the right a ship in the canal.  Below are the words Canal Zone.  At the top the engraved words Y.M.C.A. Gatun.   The reverse side is all engraved:  Member / Of / Team Winning / First Prize / In / Red Hot Indoor Baseball / Tournament / August 1913 / (an engraved design) / A. Bailey.  Below is the hallmark of the manufacturer: R.Stoll,N.Y. Sterling.   Medal is irregular round shape, holed as made, suspended from a blue ribbon and pin clasp.  The size of the medal varies about 33 to 34.5 mm depending on where measured.  The medal lays over the ribbon, which is about 2 3/4" long.  Weight of all is 19.27 grams.

Provenance:

  • Unrecorded Ebay seller; 2001
 
1913 Panama Canal Opening / Southern Commercial Congress / Alabama. United States, 1913. Large suspended medal.  The medal portion shows a map of Southern part of United States and Mexco and Central America with Cuba and other island countries.  A stylized star over the U.S. Map with a water route from Alabama to the Panama Canal and beyond.  To the left a flower design and enclosed in a box Alabama Did It.  The legend reads Panama Canal Opening Celebration, Mobile, Oct 27 - 29, 1913.   The reverse side is blank.  On the edge the name of the manufacturer, Whitehead-Hoag.  Looped at top and suspended from an ornate broach / heder.  The head of a man wearing a cap with wings with words on the wings Commerce Manufacture. At the top of the head a small eagle facing left with small words above, Here We Rest.  Below the face reads Southern Commercial Congress.  To the left a train engine, above a building, and to the right a ship.  Clasp on back and the reverse is blank.  The medal is 51 mm, and the broach / header from approx just over 44 mm across to 33 mm high.  Measured from top to bottom with suspended chain about 108 mm.  Overall weight is 60.01 grams. May be white metal or plated.

Provenance:

  • Rossa & Tannenbaum; July 28, 1993
 
1913 Panama Canal Opening Celebration / Senator Morgan / Alabama. United States, 1913. Obverse shows a bust of Alabama Senator Mrogan facing mostly left.  Around reads John Tyler Morgan U.S. Senator From Alabama.  The reverse side is same as the prior medal in this listing.  The size is just under 51 mm, weight 67.11 grams, bronze, and on edge the name of the manufacturer, Whitehead-Hoag.

Provenance:

  • Paul Bosco; February 19, 1984
 
ca 1914 United States Revolver Associatoin, Panama. Panama, ca. 1914. Championship 3rd Place medal awarded to M. E. Woodward, ca. 1914.  Another similar type medal awarded to the same person is dated 1914.  This medal is from the same general time frame.  The medal part shows Miss Liberty seated holding the U.S. Great Seal in her left hand, raised; and the seal of the U.S.R.A. In her right hand, lower.  Above is United States and below Revolver Association.  The reverse side reads Indoor / Championships / March A / 3rd / Prize / Won By / M. E. Woodwad / Score 384.  Below is the name of the manufacturer W & H Co.  The following are engraved into the medal: A / 3rd / M. E. Woodward / 384.   The medal part is suspended by two chains/links from the header, which shows an Eagle over Championship.  The word Panama is engraved below.  Bronze, overall size including the header, suspension and medal is approx.  3 1/8" and weight 28.68 grams.

Provenance:

  • Jerry Schimmel Auction; October 3, 1993, Sale #28, lot #570
 
1914 United States Revolver Association, Panama. Panama, 1914. Championship 1st place silver medal awarded to M.E. Woodward, 1914.  The obverse shows Miss Liberty seated holding the Panama Coat of Arms in her right hand, and the year 1914 in her left hand.  Above her an eagle.  Below and around United States Revolver Assn.  The reverse side reads Indoor / Revolver / Championship / Won By / M. E. Woodward / Score / 408.  His name and 408 are engraved.  Below stamped R. Stoll, N.Y. / Sterling.  The medal is suspended by the chain / links from the header, which shows an eagle and shield over Championship.  Above is engraved Panama.  Overall size including the header, suspension and medal is approx 2 3/4" and weight 27.17 grams.   A companion medal to the prior listing also won by Woodward.

Provenance:

  • Charles Kirtley Auction; January 19, 1993, Sale #93, lot #M072