BZD – Belize Dollar
Monetary System
1885: 1 Belize dollar (BZD) = 100 cents
2003 – 2023 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but with wider demetalized security threads, the denomination spelled out as an electrotype watermark, and an intaglio overprint (the periwinkle flower) on the hologram of the 100-dollar note.
Each note has a 6-digit serial number and 2-letter prefix. The prefixes start at DA, and the second letter advances alphabetically over time before advancing the first letter. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 2.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Violet, deep mauve, and blue. Front: English text; jade head; stela from Nim Li Punit (Kekchi for big hat) in Toledo District; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; carved Xunantunich arch in Cayo District as registration device. Back: English text; arch; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; Maya ruins: Altun Ha in Belize District, Xunantunich in Cayo District, and Lubaantun in Toledo District. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant” and electrotype TWO. Printer: DE LA RUE. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Red, carmine, and orange. Front: English text; jade head; Thomas Potts medallion; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; HMS Merlin battleship as registration device. Back: English text; battleship; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; St. George’s Caye bathing kraals; Thomas Potts’ tomb; map of St. George’s Caye; summer residence; cannon. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE.Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant” and electrotype FIVE. Printer: Varieties. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Black, green, and ochre. Front: English text; jade head; Belize City Court House clock tower; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; clock tower as registration device. Back: English text; clock tower; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; 1910 buildings of Belize City: Government House, Court House, and St. John’s Cathedral. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant” and electrotype TEN. Printer: Varieties. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Brown, chestnut, and orange. Front: English text; jade head; jaguar in tree; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; Baird’s tapir head as registration device. Back: English text; tapir; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; animals: fruit bat, black howler monkey, Tamanduas anteater, kinkajou (honey bear), tayra, collared peccary, white-tailed deer, and jaguar. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant” and electrotype TWENTY. Printer: Varieties. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 150 x 75 mm
Burgundy, pink, and olive green. Front: English text; jade head; foil angel fish; two men in sailboat passing swing bridge; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; decorative iron rail of Belize City swing bridge as registration device. Back: English text; iron rail; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; Belize City swing bridge with men turning hand-operated mechanism; Hawksworth suspension bridge over Mopan River connecting San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Jaguar and electrotype FIFTY. Printer: DE LA RUE. 150 x 75 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 150 x 75 mm
Blue, purple, and red. Front: English text; jade head; holographic keel-billed toucan; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; toucan as registration device. Back: English text; toucan; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; birds: jabiru stork, brown pelican, red-footed booby, magnificent frigate bird, blue-crown parrot, and king vulture. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Jaguar and electrotype ONE HUNDRED. Printer: Varieties. 150 x 75 mm. Paper.
2012 Commemorative Issues
1.5 million of these notes were issued—along with a 1-dollar coin—to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Central Bank of Belize.
Description: 20.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Brown, chestnut, and orange. Front: English text; jade head; flying Jaibu stork bird; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; Baird’s tapir head as registration device. Back: English text; tapir; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; Central Bank of Belize headquarters building in Belize City. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant” and electrotype TWENTY. Printer: DE LA RUE. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
1997 – 2002 Issues
These notes are like preceding issues, but are smaller in size (150 x 75 mm for the 50- and 100-dollar notes and 140 x 70 mm for the lower denominations), the registration devices are encircled and divided into quarters, windowed security threads are common to all denominations, and they have horizontal novel serial numbers. Furthermore, the 100-dollar note is protected by a hologram and there’s a foil fish on the 50-dollar note.
Each note has a 6-digit serial number and 2-letter prefix. The prefixes start at CA, and the second letter advances alphabetically over time before advancing the first letter. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.
Description: 2.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Violet, deep mauve, and blue. Front: English text; jade head; stela from Nim Li Punit (Kekchi for big hat) in Toledo District; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; carved Xunantunich arch in Cayo District as registration device. Back: English text; arch; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; Maya ruins: Altun Ha in Belize District, Xunantunich in Cayo District, and Lubaantun in Toledo District. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant.” Printer: DE LA RUE. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Red, carmine, and orange. Front: English text; jade head; Thomas Potts medallion; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; HMS Merlin battleship as registration device. Back: English text; battleship; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; St. George’s Caye bathing kraals; Thomas Potts’ tomb; map of St. George’s Caye; summer residence; cannon. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant.” Printer: DE LA RUE. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Black, green, and ochre. Front: English text; jade head; Belize City Court House clock tower; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; clock tower as registration device. Back: English text; clock tower; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; 1910 buildings of Belize City: Government House, Court House, and St. John’s Cathedral. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant.” Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE AND COMPANY LIMITED. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 140 x 70 mm
Brown, chestnut, and orange. Front: English text; jade head; jaguar in tree; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; Baird’s tapir head as registration device. Back: English text; tapir; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; animals: fruit bat, black howler monkey, Tamanduas anteater, kinkajou (honey bear), tayra, collared peccary, white-tailed deer, and jaguar. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE $20. Watermark: Carved head of the “sleeping giant.” Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE AND COMPANY LIMITED. 140 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 150 x 75 mm
Burgundy, pink, and olive green. Front: English text; jade head; OVD fish; two men in sailboat passing swing bridge; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; decorative iron rail of Belize City swing bridge as registration device. Back: English text; iron rail; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; Belize City swing bridge with men turning hand-operated mechanism; Hawksworth suspension bridge over Mopan River connecting San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE $50. Watermark: Jaguar and electrotype FIFTY. Printer: DE LA RUE. 150 x 75 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 BZD – Belize Dollar Size: 150 x 75 mm
Blue, purple, and red. Front: English text; jade head; keel-billed toucan; coat of arms; school of queen triggerfish and queen angelfish; Queen Elizabeth II wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara and Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee necklace; toucan as registration device. Back: English text; toucan; keel-billed toucan and Baird’s tapir; birds: jabiru stork, brown pelican, red-footed booby, magnificent frigate bird, blue-crown parrot, and king vulture. Windowed security thread with demetalized BELIZE $100. Watermark: Jaguar and electrotype ONE HUNDRED. Printer: THOMAS DE LA RUE AND COMPANY LIMITED. 150 x 75 mm. Paper.
Government of Belize
The Board of Commissioners of Currency operated from 1894 to 1976. Beginning in 1974, it issued notes as The Government of Belize (GOV), and these notes were signed by three Commissioners of Currency.
