Belize dollar
Worldwide use:
- Belize
Description:
The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar. One Belize Dollar is made up of 100 Belize Cents. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Cents as well as 1 Dollar. Notes are issued in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Dollar bills. Occasionally the 25 Cent coin is referred to as a "shilling" and a "bluenote" is the informal name used for a 100 Dollar banknote.
During the 19th century, the British Shilling was sometimes referred to as the 'Maccaroni.' Also, people living in Belize are forbidden to hold US Dollar bank accounts.
Origin:
Originally a Spanish Colony, acquired by the British in 1786, Belize later became part of a region called the British Honduras, where, like most of the Americas, the Spanish Dollar was common currency from 1765–1825. Then, in 1825, the region adopted British Sterling and this continued until the international silver shortage in 1873 when the currency was phased out and the British Honduras Dollar was introduced in 1885. British Honduras was granted self-government in 1964 and officially renamed Belize in 1973. Belize Dollar notes with the country's new name were introduced in 1974.
Component units:
- Cent (100)
Date introduced:
- 1973
Central bank:
- Central Bank of Belize
Printer:
- Del La Rue
Mint:
- The Royal Mint
