On June 1, 1973, the British colony of British Honduras changed its name to Belize, but its status remained unchanged until 1981, when Belize was granted independence.
Coins of the Colony of Belize (1973–80)
editThe coins of the Colony of Belize retain the same basic designs as on the coins of British Honduras, but with the country's name changed to "Belize". These coins were struck at the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. A series of numismatic coins, depicting the Belizean Coat-of-Arms on the obverse instead of the Queen's portrait, were struck at the Franklin Mint.[1][2] These coins were generally intended for American collectors, however, and did not circulate in Belize.[2]
Coins of Belize (1981–present)
editThe coins of the 1981 issue are regarded by collectors as being the first official coins of Belize. Most coins since independence have been struck at the Royal Mint, and still bear the British Honduras-style coin designs. Queen Elizabeth II, Belize's first head of state, is featured on Belizean coins facing right and wearing the heraldic Tudor Crown. Two types of the effigy of the Queen were used, one by Cecil Thomas for coins of 1-50 cents and one by Raphael Maklouf for the dollar coin.
Post independence coins
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Belize 1 Cent Coin - Obverse -
Belize 1 Cent Coin - Reverse -
Five-cent coin obverse, though similar in size the shape distinguishes it from the one cent coin -
Five-cent coin reverse, made of aluminum -
Ten-cent coin obverse, smaller size and reeded edge distinguishes it from the five cent coin -
Ten-cent coin reverse -
Twenty-five-cent coin obverse, larger size distinguishes this coin from the ten cent coin -
Twenty-five-cent coin reverse -
Belize 50 Cent Coin - Reverse -
Belize 50 Cent Coin - Reverse -
Belize 1 Dollar Coin
Gallery
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Reverse of modern Belize coins -
1975 10-cent coin -
1974 25-cent coin -
1991 50-cent coin. As seen here, coins have not drastically changed since Belize's independence in 1981. -
Comparison of British Honduras and Belize one-cent coins. Both types of coins share the same obverse and a very similar reverse -
Commemorative 1991 ten-dollar coin celebrating the tenth anniversary of independence.
References
edit- ^ Lane, Roger deWardt (2010). Encyclopedia of Small Silver Coins (Revised 3rd ed.). Roger deWardt Lane. p. 583. ISBN 9780615244792.
- ^ a b Morgan, Charles (14 September 2016). "The Coming Collector Coin Supernova and Its Ramifications for World Mints and the Numismatic Marketplace". CoinWeek. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
