Post Civil War
1886 Choice Quality Panama Canal Bond Certificate for "Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique de Panama"
(PANAMA CANAL). Original 1886-Dated, Panama Canal Bond Certificate with 12 Unclipped Interest Payment Coupons Attached, Choice Crisp Extremely Fine.
1886-Dated, Decorative Interest Bearing Bond Certificate with a face value of 500 French Francs, from the "Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique de Panama," measuring 7.25" x 15.75", irregularly shaped being indented at left, choice clean appearance, blue print on white wove paper, Stamped and Embossed. This was the first attempt to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, which, if successful, would have eliminated the need to travel completely around South America in order to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans and vice versa. After much struggle and misery, the Panama Canal was finally opened in 1915. This bond still has many of the interest coupons still attached (the previous 15 or so were clipped off and redeemed). Official Panama Canal stamps and cancellations appear in the 3rd and 4th disbursement areas; the first and second areas also appear to have been clipped off. All in all, this is a very attractive and interesting certificate, and one which would make a nice display and conversation piece.