Numismatic Coins Vault

Curated physical coinage registry tracking historical strikes, metallic compositions, mint markings, and face values.

United StatesGrade: Brilliant Uncirculated

Quarter Dollar (El Yunque)

Year: 2012 • Mint Mark: P • Metal: Copper-Nickel

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This pristine specimen features a spectacular Brilliant Uncirculated satin strike from the Philadelphia Mint. The obverse showcases John Flanagan’s classic George Washington profile, showing sharp frost details on the hair lines next to a crisp P mint mark. The reverse design features the endemic Coquí frog resting on a leaf in the lower left quadrant, while a Puerto Rican Parrot sits perched on a tree branch above. The fields are entirely clear of bag marks with a uniform, luminous mint luster.

Historical Context & Lineage

Released on January 23, 2012, this coin marks the 11th release within the United States Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters Program. This beautiful reverse composition uniquely honors Puerto Rico’s tropical rainforest ecosystem, showcasing two of its most famous endangered and native wildlife species. Added as a secondary duplicate sequence entry into the collection repository, this specific specimen was selected for its exceptional reverse die execution and crisp central focal point details.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)

Dominican RepublicGrade: Brilliant Uncirculated

1 Peso (V Centenario)

Year: 1992 • Mint Mark: None • Metal: Copper-Nickel

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This specimen is a highly eye-catching circulation-strike commemorative featuring a multi-faceted 11-sided (hendecagonal) inner rim border. The obverse displays the central Dominican National Coat of Arms with the small open Bible text intact, balanced alongside the crisp, bold face value 1 PESO. The reverse shows a frost-finished portrait of Christopher Columbus looking left. The coin exhibits strong cameo-like field contrast with sharp, mirrored background planes and minimal friction marking.

Historical Context & Lineage

Issued in 1992 to mark the historic milestone of the 500th anniversary of the Discovery and Evangelization of America (V CENTENARIO DEL DESCUBRIMIENTO Y EVANGELIZACION DE AMERICA). This specific sub-series design served a dual role—acting as an accessible, high-relief circulating commemorative for citizens while paying homage to Santo Domingo’s status as the initial focal point of European contact in the Caribbean basin. It remains a visually unique addition to regional 20th-century collection databases.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)

PanamaGrade: Brilliant Uncirculated

100 Balboas (Paz y Progreso)

Year: 1978 • Mint Mark: FM • Metal: Gold

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This stunning gold piece features an exceptional high-relief strike displaying full original mint luster. The official obverse is anchored by the intricate Panamanian National Coat of Arms, flanked cleanly by the purity markers 900/1000 ORO FINO and the small FM mint mark. The reverse bears the graceful rendering of three Dove Orchids wrapped inside a circular perimeter border. Fields are pristine, showcasing deep mirror-like qualities characteristic of a premier uncirculated strike.

Historical Context & Lineage

Minted under special government contract by the private Franklin Mint in the United States, this 1978 issue holds a limited collector mintage of only 6,086 pieces. Instead of utilizing a traditional dove bird, Panama uniquely opted to feature its national flower—the Peristeria elata or Dove Orchid—to visually represent the coin’s core theme, PAZ Y PROGRESO (Peace and Progress). Strikingly preserved, this specimen remains a top-tier premium asset within the modern Latin American precious metal ledger.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)

PanamaGrade: Circulated

Un Cuarto de Balboa (Cincuentenario)

Year: 1953 • Mint Mark: None • Metal: Silver

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This piece is a highly preserved circulating commemorative strike minted to celebrate the 50th Anniversary (Cincuentenario) of the Republic of Panama. The obverse displays a crisp rendering of the Panamanian coat of arms flanked by its official purity declarations (LEY 0.900 and GR. 6.25). The strike retains clean perimeter rim definitions with uniform reeded edges. Minor localized high-point smoothing is visible on the chest of the central eagle, typical of its standard circulation profile.

Historical Context & Lineage

Minted by the United States Mint in Philadelphia, this 1953 issue boasts a limited total production mintage of exactly 1,200,000 units. The reverse prominently features the profile armor bust of Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa facing left, encircled by the commemorative inscription UN CUARTO DE BALBOA • CINCUENTENARIO. This issue remains a cornerstone piece representing post-colonial monetary autonomy and historical alliance iconography in Latin American numismatics.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)

Puerto RicoGrade: Circulated

5 Centavos

Year: 1896 • Mint Mark: PGV • Metal: Silver

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This specimen exhibits an exceptionally attractive presentation with beautiful, intense target toning creeping inward from the beaded rims. The obverse features a crisp central numeral 5 clear of major scratches, surrounded by the sharp legend ISLA DE PUERTO RICO. The reverse shows the crowned coat of arms of Spain sitting between the Pillars of Hercules. High-point wear is modest, leaving the individual brick lines on the castle tower and the texture of the lion clearly visible.

Historical Context & Lineage

Struck at the Madrid Mint under Spanish colonial administration, this 1896 issue represents the final fractional silver denomination produced for Puerto Rico before the Spanish-American War. While the 20, 40 Centavos, and 1 Peso coins featured the bust of the young King Alfonso XIII, the tiny 5 Centavos piece uniquely relied on a bold, clean numeral layout. The initials along the bottom edge, P.G. B.M. V., denote the specific mint assayers and engraver responsible for validating this historic 600,000-unit production run.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)

Bolivia (Spanish Colonial)Grade: Circulated (Holed)

8 Reales (Cob)

Year: 1705 • Mint Mark: P • Metal: Silver

Numismatic Historical Log

Physical & Strike Assessment

This hand-struck silver cob exhibits a fascinating, irregular planchet with excellent structural thickness. The obverse features the traditional Jerusalem Cross layout containing alternating castles and lions in the quarters, framed by a partial peripheral inscription. The reverse displays the historic Pillars of Hercules rising out of stylized ocean waves, inscribed with the motto PLV SVL TRA (Plus Ultra). A clean, contemporary holed piercing sits at the 12 o’clock position relative to the reverse pillars, representing authentic historical use as a wearable monetary asset.

Historical Context & Lineage

Produced at the high-altitude Imperial Mint of Potosí (P) during the turbulent transition years of the War of the Spanish Succession under King Philip V. Hand-struck by indigenous and enslaved artisans utilizing heavy mallets on crude silver planchets sheared from poured bars, cob coinage was designed for rapid bullion export rather than aesthetic perfection. The bold, centrally struck date digits 705 nestled between the two vertical pillars make this an exceptionally well-identified and highly desirable artifact of early global maritime commerce.

Obverse (Front)

Reverse (Back)