Panama 1976 1 Balboa Rare Matte BU Luster/Sharp. Few Released, NOT MULE. Gem, Record Mintage 625 PCS, Few Released, I Estimate Less Than 50 pcs.
 
The Last True Matte BU 1 Balboa struck my the Franklin Mint and not the Error Canadian Mint. No Specimen were struck or Sets. Extremely Rare Find. Here's a very rare coin and first I have seen in over 10 years in looking for the Matte Version Balboa. Franklin Mint recorded 625 coins struck in Matte BU, this to legalize the Proof coins as normal practice to strike the minimum required to legalize the better selling proof versions and sets. 1975 was that last year that Matte coins were being struck and 1976 were struck mostly in Specimen Proof-like and Proof and no Matte. Since 1976 was a transition from the Matte version to Specimen proof-like, only a very small number of the Matte BU, were actual struck. Even though records indicated 625 coins, most likely a very small amount were released to the public since the Specimen version replaced them. I would estimate less than 50 coins released, since I have been searching for over 10 years and not seen one in the market. If 625 coins were release, they would be seen frequently and in this case, this is the first I have encountered and extremely rare. A rare find and a very nice addition to your collection.