| Obverse Design | Top has perched eagle, wings spread, head ducked down and facing right. This eagle has the wings swept down below the feet, but is not identical to the vest badge eagle. The eagle is on a circle whose center is the first seal of the canal (with the Spanish Galleon and the sea level canal). There is a smooth circle around the seal with lettering. All lettering is incuse. The lettering says "CANAL ZONE" curving above the seal and "POLICE" curving below. On the same circle there is one five pointed star to the right and one to the left of the seal. The stars are below the center, unlike the vest badge. The larger circle has a textured background and a border design done with a plant that looks similar to corn. Below the larger circle is an elongated hollow hexagon. Mounted on the hexagon are the badge number "449." The elongated hexagon and the badge numbers are smooth. | ||||
| Reverse Design | Screw or push pin connector in the center. The upper edge of the hexagon is stamped "STERLING". | ||||
| Metal | Back says "STERLING", so perhaps it is silver or silver-plated brass. Most similar badges are nickel-plated brass. | Size and Shape | About 65mm wide by 65mm high (2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches). | ||
| Dates Issued | This badge and the matching BG-16.1 vest badge were used from early 1941 or earlier until the service of the Canal Zone Police ended on March 31, 1982. | ||||
| Issurer | The Panama Canal Company. | ||||
| Numbers Issued | Pieces include #449. | ||||
| Rarity | Scarce. | Manufacturer | Unknown. | Source | Levy Collection. |
| Varieties | None known. | ||||
| Function |
Police hat badge. I would appreciate e-mail from anyone who can add anything to the history of these badges. |
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| Notes |
According to a former Canal Zone Police officer from the 1968-1970 era, he wore badge BG-16.1 on his left breast pocket, this badge BG-16.2 on his hat and had a smaller wallet-size badge as well. |
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Scale: 4 pixels equals one millimeter
Canal Zone Bicycle Police wearing Hat Badge (probably BG-16.2)
From the Canal Zone Review, Fall 1973 Edition