Obverse Design The legend "S. SORACCO" curves along the top. Horizontally across the bottom is the legend "COLON". Below "COLON" near the bottom edge is a small five-point star with a dot on either side. Above "COLON" is an ornament consisting of a fleur-de-li with four ornate branches. The token has denticles along the edge and a smooth plain raised edge.
Reverse Design In the center is a large "5". The word "CENTS" curves along the bottom of the token. On either side of the "5" is an ornate scroll ornament. The token has denticles along the edge and a smooth plain raised edge.
Metal White metal, probably copper-nickel. Weight About 3.6 grams. Size and Shape Round, 20 mm in diameter.
Dates Issued After 1850, and before 1908. Probably issued in the 1880's.
Issuer S. Soracco.
Mintage Unknown.
Rarity Common. Manufacturer Attributed to the Scovil Manufactoring Company of Waterbury, CT by Ignacio Henao. Other Catalog Numbers Asociación Numismático's F-259 (photo), Bernal #376, Eklund #1070, Henkle's Colon #40, Henao's COM 504-1, Plumer page #9, Rulau's Col 65, Schimmel #19, Scott page 58 and Ulex Auction Catalog (1908) part of Lot #2241.
Varieties None known for S. Soracco. The same or a similar reverse is featured on at least four tokens, all of which are from Colon: C. Jackson, Henry de Lisser, Santiago Garcia and S. Soracco.
Function Merchant token.
Population Count Twenty-nine (29) specimens of this token in collector hands are known to me. Recent sales include:
  1. Offered for sale on eBay in an auction ending August 27, 2006 for an opening bid of $49.99. Went unsold. Specimen was in Good (G-4) condition with a lot of wear.
  2. Offered for sale on eBay in an auction ending May 14, 2006 for an opening bid of $100. Went unsold. Specimen was in Almost Uncirculated (AU) condition.
  3. Offered for sale on ebay in an auction ending June 29, 2003 for an opening bid of $75. Went unsold.
  4. Auction sale on eBay on March 29, 2003 for $20.61.
  5. Auction sale on eBay on January 8, 2003 for $32 plus $1.25 shipping.
  6. Auction sale on eBay on March 12, 2002 for $48.
  7. Auction sale on eBay on January 31, 2002 for $16 plus $4 shipping.
  8. Auction sale on eBay on January 2, 2001 for $40.
Notes

Colon was founded by the Panama Railroad Company in 1850 as the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Railroad. Later, Colon became the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal. The 1880's were a boom-time for Colon as the French attempt to build the Panama Canal was underway.

The surname SORACCO appears to be Italian in origin, but nothing is known to me about the Colon merchant S. Soracco.

Notas

S. Soracco figura en el Commercial Directory of the American Republics (1897-1898) en la lista de comerciantes de Colón, en el estado de Panamá. La seña fue acuñada en los Estados Unidos por Scovil Manufactoring Company en Waterbury, CT, USA.