UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA - PANAMA Rare medal commemorating the studies for the Panama Canal (1880). Enameled gold with the great coat of arms of Colombia. Marked on back "1 DE ENERO DE 1880 INAUGURACION DE LOS ESTUDIOS DEFINITIVOS PARA LA APERTURA DEL CANAL INTEROCEANICO DE COLONA PANAMA POR EL CONDE FERDINAND DE LESSEPS". Rosette ribbon. Ring broken. Eagle head hallmark. 67 x 44 mm - Gross weight: 13 g T.T.B. to SUP. In its unmarked case. History and related works : This rare medal is considered the first Panamanian medal. It was instituted by Damaso Cervero and presented to Ferdinand de Lesseps and his engineers, who were studying the construction of the Panama Canal in 1880 (the project was not completed until 1913). There appear to be two types of medal, either silver with a simple ribbon, or vermeil (or rarely gold) with a rosette ribbon. A medal and patent in the Robert L. Ross collection (Princeton University).