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Obverse Design
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Top has perched eagle, wings spread, head ducked down and facing right. This eagle
has the wings swept down below the feet, and is identical or almost identical
to the BG-10 (second badge type) eagle. The center of the shield has the
first seal of the Canal Zone with a Spanish Galleon sailing through a sea level
canal. There is a smooth circle around the seal with lettering. All lettering
is incuse. The lettering
says "POLICE" curving above the seal and "DIVISION" curving below. On the same
circle there is one five pointed star to the right and one to the left of the seal.
Above the shield is a smooth horizontal bar with
what may be the officer's rank (unreadable in this example).
Below the shield is a smooth square for the badge number (an unreadable single
digit number in the example). The shield overall
has a textured background. All edges of the shield except the top have a leaf
design as the edge.
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Reverse Design
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Probably a pin back. To be determined.
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Metal
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Unknown metal. Silver color. Probably nickel plated brass.
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Size and Shape
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Unknown, but probably the "standard" size of about 45mm wide by 61mm high (1 3/4 inches by
2 1/4 inches).
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Dates Issued
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Unknown. This is tentatively attributed as a member of the fourth Canal Zone
Police badge type. The seal on the badge was designed in 1905 and used through 1950.
The Police Division was named as such in the 1940's but perhaps earlier as well.
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Issurer
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The Panama Canal Company.
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Numbers Issued
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Pieces include the unknown single digit number of this example.
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Rarity
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Rare.
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Manufacturer
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Unknown.
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Source
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Panama Canal Review, October 1, 1979 issue, centerfold.
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Varieties
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None known.
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Function
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Police vest badge.
I would appreciate
e-mail from anyone who can add anything to the history of these badges.
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