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. This eagle is holding a banner in its mouth
which goes up on the eagle's left wing (the right of the image), similar to the
BG-25 badge type. The banner
is blank. The center of the shield has the
first seal of the Canal Zone with a Spanish galleon going through a sea level canal.
Above the seal is a curving banner
which has tails trailing up from either end. The banner has the words
"CHIEF ADMEASURER".
Below the seal is another banner with tails scrolled up at either end. This banner
reads "PANAMA CANAL".
Below the shield is a smooth square for the badge number. The example above
was never issued a number. The shield
overall
has a textured background. The shield has a raised ridge as the edge.
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Reverse Design
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Vertical pin back.
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Metal
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Unknown metal. Gold color.
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Size and Shape
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About 45mm wide by 61mm high (about 1 3/4 inches by 2 3/8 inches).
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Dates Issued
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Exact dates unknown. The very similar BG-25 has the 1950 seal instead, so this
badge is tentatively attributed to the late 1940's.
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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 unnumbered specimen piece above.
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Rarity
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Very Rare.
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Manufacturer
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Unknown.
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Source
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King Collection.
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Varieties
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None known.
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Function
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The Chief Admeasurer determined the tolls for ships going through the Panama Canal.
I would appreciate
e-mail from anyone who can add anything to the history of these badges.
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