The 29th edition of the coin collectors’ fair opened this weekend at the Sheraton Hotel’s Grand Salon in Panama City, drawing numismatists and history enthusiasts eager to buy, trade, and display rare currency. Organized by the Numismatic Association of Panama, the event runs through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Attendees can explore collections spanning coins, banknotes, stamps, postcards, pins, and insignias. Some pieces date back to 1904, offering a tangible link to Panama’s early monetary history alongside modern investment-grade items in silver and gold.
Rare Coins and Investment Pieces on Display
Darío Berbey, a longtime collector, described the range of materials available.
“We have coins with numismatic value. We also have investment pieces in silver, gold, Panamanian coins, antique pieces from the classic collection, and modern contemporary ones,” he said [Translated from Spanish].
The fair serves as both a marketplace and an educational platform. Organizers said the goal is to introduce younger generations to collecting while preserving the country’s financial heritage. The event also includes philatelic exhibits, expanding its appeal beyond currency alone.
Preserving Panama’s Monetary History
Juan José Gutiérrez, president of the Philatelic Association, emphasized the cultural dimension.
“I want to extend an invitation to everyone who collects. Here you will find everything, and remember that collecting is culture, it is preserving the country’s culture,” he said [Translated from Spanish].
Rogelio Vásquez, president of the Numismatic Association of Panama, noted that many people discover their passion accidentally. “Many times you don’t realize you are a collector until you discover you have a quantity of coins and that they are collectible,” Vásquez said. “I have 27 years in this and I have great satisfaction because, through the Numismatic Association of Panama, we have been able to reach the general population, public and private schools, to tell and keep alive the history of the Panamanian currency” [Translated from Spanish].
Community Engagement and Future Outlook
The association has focused on outreach to schools, bringing coin history directly to students. This strategy aims to cultivate a new wave of collectors while reinforcing national identity through tangible artifacts.
One attendee described the fair as “a national showcase where we can exhibit as collectors, above all the things of history and the present that come together and give us a window to see beyond” [Translated from Spanish].
The event remains free to the public, encouraging broad participation from casual visitors and serious collectors alike.
With pieces ranging from early 20th-century currency to modern bullion, the fair underscores Panama’s layered economic story. Organizers expect strong turnout through Sunday as collectors seek rare finds and families explore the country’s numismatic legacy.
