1979 Medal Panama Canal 75th Ann. Bronze

Coin Details

Description

This 1979 bronze medal marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Panama Canal, which opened to traffic on August 15, 1914. The canal, carved through the Isthmus of Panama under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was one of the greatest engineering achievements of the early twentieth century, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and eliminating the dangerous voyage around Cape Horn. The 1979 anniversary date coincided with the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaties signed in 1977, which initiated the process of transferring canal control from the United States to Panama, completed on December 31, 1999. The artistic quality of American medals has evolved significantly over time, from the competent but sometimes crude products of early die cutters to the sophisticated sculptural compositions of modern medalists. This medal commemorates the canal at a transitional moment in its history.

Rarity Notes

Bronze, Panama Canal 75th anniversary. Produced during the canal treaty transition period.

Cross References

PCGS #927692; Panama Canal; 75th Anniversary 1979; Opened August 15, 1914