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Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Profile

Currency name: 
Currency code: 
Currency symbol: 

B/.

Subunit: 
1/100, Centésimo
Coins freq used: 
B/.1⁄10, B/.¼, B/.½, B/.1, B/.2, 1 centésimo , 5 centésimos
Coins rarely used: 
 
Banknotes freq used: 
None (U.S. dollars are employed instead, although denominated in balboas)
Banknotes rarely used: 
 
Central bank: 
National Bank of Panama (www.banconal.com.pa)
Currency users: 

Panama (alongside the U.S.dollar)

Currency notes: 

Panamanian balboa (PAB) is pegged with USD at par. 

Currency user map: 

Panamanian balboa users

The Panamanian balboa is the currency of Panama (officially the Republic of Panama). It has been the official currency alongside the United States dollar (USD) since 1904 and has always been tied to the U.S.dollar at par.

Panama is a southernmost country of Central America. North America and South America are connected by the Isthmus of Panama.

Panama obtained independence from Colombia in 1903. In the same year of November, Panama signed the Hay-Burnau-Varilla Treaty with The United States. Hence the United States continued the Panama ship canal construction work which began in 1880 (by France, 1880-1889) and then was formally opened on August 15, 1914.    

Panamanian balboa hisotry

The Panamanian balboa replaced the Colombian peso in 1904. The United States dollar (USD) became Panama’s another official currency through the Monetary Agreement which was signed between Panama and the United States on June 20, 1904.

Panamanian balboa coins and banknotes

The Panamanian balboa is subdivided into 100 centésimos. Currently in circulation Panamanian baloa coins are in denominations of 1, 5 centésimos and  1⁄10, ¼, ½, 1 & 2 balboas. The 1904 Monetary Agreement signed between Panama and the United States stated that only silver coins of Panamanian balboa could be issued and the Banknotes would be employed by the U.S.dollar instead, although denominated in baloas. There were approximately 2 million worth of Panamanian balboa banknotes were issued on October 2, 1941 at the authorized by President Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid, but they were recalled and burned right after seven days later. There might be very few “survived” Panamanian balboa notes were left in the world and called as “Arias Seven Day” notes which have the high value to collectors.