BSD – Bahamian Dollar
Monetary System
1838: 1 Bahamian pound = 20 shillings
1966: 1 Bahamian dollar (BSD) = 100 cents
2016 – 2021 CRISP Evolution Issues
On 28 September 2016, the Central Bank of The Bahamas introduced a new 10-dollar note, the first in its newest family of CRISP Evolution (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) banknotes, with other denominations to be introduced over the next few years.
The new note bears some of the same design elements as the preceding issue, but with a vertical orientation for the back, and enhanced security features. The note is reportedly the first circulation banknote in the world bearing De La Rue’s Active, a lenticular thread visible on the back of the note. The note also has subsidiary features, such as the use of raster graphics throughout the banknote, a SPARK Orbital butterfly, and the installation of tactile bars for the visually-impaired.
New 50- and 100-dollar notes are to be printed on Durasafe, a paper-polymer-paper composite substrate produced by Landqart.
According to other sources, these denominations will reportedly be printed by Canadian Banknote Company using Crane’s Rapid windowed security thread. The 1- and 5-dollar notes are reported to be printed on Louisenthal’s Hybrid substrate.
Each note has a 6-digit serial number and 1-letter prefix. The prefix on each denomination starts at A, and advances alphabetically over time.
These notes were honored as the Best New Series at the High Security Printing conference in 2022.
Description: 0.50 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Gray, green, blue, coral, lilac, and red. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; flower; gold-to-green lizard, Queen Elizabeth II. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; artisan straw weaver, Sister Sarah (Johnson) in Nassau market with fish, fruit, and straw goods; sand dollar. Windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS and sand dollar. Watermark: Queen Elizabeth II and electrotype $1/2. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 1.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Green, lilac, gray, orange, and yellow. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; Lignum vitae flower; flying owl in green iridescent ink; Lynden O. Pindling. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; standing drum major holding staff; Royal Bahamas police band; sand dollar. Green-to-gold windowed security thread with demetalized $1 ONE. Watermark: Lynden O. Pindling and electrotype $1. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient. 156 x 67 mm. Composite (Hybrid).
Description: 3.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Burgundy, brown, red, lavender, and yellow. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; Passion flower; chain links in purple-to-red SPARK; Queen Elizabeth II. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; sail boats at sea; people on beach with lounge chairs and palm trees; sand dollar. Green-to-gold windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS and sand dollar. Watermark: Queen Elizabeth II and electrotype $3. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciary. 156 x 67 mm. Composite (Hybrid).
Description: 5.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Yellow, orange, green libac, red, brown, and Hue. Front English teak sand dollar as registration device; map; hibiscus lower; bird in light Cecil Wallace-Whitefield. Back English text Dalton Barrets likeness of Junkanoo cowbeller dancers; coat of arms; Sand dollar. Green-to-gold windowed security thread with demetalized $5 FIVE. Watermark: Cecil Wallace -Whitfield and electrotype $5. 156 x 67 mm.
Description: 10.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue, green, and pink. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; Yellow Elder flower, SPARK Orbital butterfly; Stafford L. Sands. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; Hope Town lighthouse, Abaco with buildings and boats; two flamingoes on land and flying; sand dollar. Active windowed security thread with demetalized 10 and sand dollar. Watermark: Stafford L. Sands, electrotype $10, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
This is the first non-commemorative note in the world to use DLR’s Active security thread.
Description: 20.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Magenta, pink, green, orange, blue, and yellow. Front: English text; compass rose as registration device; map; bougainvillea flower; flying bird in SPARK Orbital OVI; pirate ship; Milo B. Butler. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; tower at Festival Place overlooking the Nassau Harbor in New Providence with cruise ships, buildings, and Sir Sidney Poitier and Paradise Island bridges; compass rose. Active windowed security thread with demetalized 20 and sand dollar. Watermark: Milo B. Butler with electrotype 20. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Light blue, pink, green, orange, and brown. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; Parliament House; map; frangipani flower; flying bird in SPARK Orbital OVI; Roland T. Symonette. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; Central Bankbuildingheadquarters in Nassau with flags and palm trees; sand dollar. Rapid windowed security thread with demetalized 50 and sand dollar. Watermark: Roland T. Symonette with electrotype 50. Printer: CANADIAN BANK NOTE COMPANY LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Composite (Durasafe).
This is the first note in the world with a Rapid security thread on Durasafe substrate.
Description: 100.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Brown, tan, rust, yellow, and light blue. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; Royal Poinciana flower; nautilus in SPARK Orbital OVI; Arthur Dion Hanna; sand dollars. Back (vertical): English text; coat of arms; blue marlin; sand dollar. Motion windowed security thread. Watermark: Arthur Dion Hanna and electrotype $100. Printer: CANADIAN BANK NOTE COMPANY LIMITED. 156 x 67 mm. Composite (Durasafe).
2010 – 2015 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but the map of the islands at center front has been altered, and on some denominations there is a new printer imprint at lower right back. These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end.
Description: 1.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Dark green, mint green, and brown. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; green foil fish; map; embossed flamingoes; Lynden O. Pindling. Back: English text; Royal Bahamas police band; coat of arms; yellow elder flowers. Solid security thread and violet-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Lynden O. Pindling, electrotype 1 in sand dollar, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Orange, brown, and blue. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; gold foil galleon; map; Columbus statue; Cecil Wallace-Whitfield. Back: English text; Junkanoo dancers; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, electrotype 5 in sand dollar, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Charcoal, red, and green. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; foil patch; map; Milo B. Butler. Back: English text; Nassau Harbour in New Providence with cruise ships, buildings, and bridges; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Milo B. Butler with electrotype 20. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Orange, brown, and green. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; gold foil bird; map; Roland T. Symonette. Back: English text; Central Bankbuildingheadquarters in Nassau with flags and palm trees; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Roland T. Symonette with electrotype 50. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
2005 – 2009 CRISP Issues
Issued under the Central Bank of the Bahamas Act 2000, the CRISP (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) family of banknotes is the first in Bahamian history to offer a range of denomination-specific features designed to combat denominationally up-rated forgeries (i.e. turning a low-value note into a higher denomination). CRISP banknote paper is also coated with a new sizing agent to help prevent the chemical removal of inks from the paper.
Each note has a 6-digit serial number and 1-letter prefix. The prefix on each denomination starts at A, and advances alphabetically over time, before resetting to 2-letter prefix AA.
Description: 1.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Dark green, mint green, and brown. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; green foil fish; map; embossed flamingoes; Lynden O. Pindling. Back: English text; Royal Bahamas police band; coat of arms; yellow elder flowers. Solid security thread and violet-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Lynden O. Pindling with electrotype 1. Printer: OBERTHUR technologies. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 5.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Orange, brown, and blue. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; gold foil galleon; map; Columbus statue; Cecil Wallace-Whitfield. Back: English text; Junkanoo dancers; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Cecil Wallace-Whitfield with electrotype 5 and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Dark blue, dark green, and maroon. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; blue foil patch; map; Queen Elizabeth II wearing tiara and royal family order of King George VI. Back: English text; Hope Town, lighthouse, Abaco with buildings and boats; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Queen Elizabeth II with electrotype 10 and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Dark blue, dark green, and maroon. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; blue foil patch; map; Stafford L. Sands. Back: English text; Hope Town, lighthouse, Abaco with buildings and boats; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Stafford L. Sands with electrotype 10 and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Charcoal, red, and green. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; foil patch; map; Milo B. Butler. Back: English text; Paradise Island and Nassau Harbour in New Providence with cruise ships, buildings, and bridges; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Milo B. Butler with electrotype 20. Printer: FCOF. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Orange, brown, and green. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; gold foil bird; map; Roland T. Symonette. Back: English text; Central Bankbuildingheadquarters in Nassau with flags and palm trees; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Roland T. Symonette with electrotype 50. Printer: FCOF. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Purple, blue, green, and mauve. Front: English text; sand dollar as registration device; map; depth image hologram; Queen Elizabeth II wearing tiara and royal family order of King George VI. Back: English text; blue marlin fish; coat of arms. Solid security thread and 3-mm windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS and sand dollar. Watermark: Queen Elizabeth II with electrotype 100 and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
2000 – 2001 Issues
These notes are protected by windowed security threads with demetalized text and OVDs on the higher denominations. The 100-dollar note has a holographic patch instead.
Description: 100.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue. Front: English text; sailboat; sand dollar; map; Queen Elizabeth II wearing tiara and royal family order of King George VI; holographic patch. Back: English text; sand dollar; blue marlin fish; coat of arms. Windowed security thread with demetalized BAHAMAS. Watermark: Spanish galleon. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
1996 – 1997 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but with an updated portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, revised color schemes, printed series years, and horizontal novel serial numbers. These notes have prefixes that resume where the preceding issues end.
Description: 100.00 BSD – Bahamian Dollar Size: 156 x 67 mm
Blue. Front: English text; sailboat; sand dollar as registration device; map; Queen Elizabeth II wearing tiara and royal family order of King George VI. Back: English text; sand dollar; blue marlin fish; coat of arms. Solid security thread printed BAHAMAS. Watermark: Spanish galleon. Printer: B A BANKNOTE. 156 x 67 mm. Paper.
Bank of Nassau Issues
In 1838, the British Currency Act made sterling coins the official currency of The Bahamas. In 1888, the Bank of Nassau was formed, and issued sterling banknotes. The bank failed in 1917, and the Bahamas government took over the issuance of banknotes on the islands.
Bahamas Government
The Currency Note Act of [18 December] 1919 established the Board of Commissioners of Currency, provided for the issue of Bahamas government banknotes, and stipulated that Bahamian currency be convertible into gold or silver coins on demand. The following notes were issued on behalf of the Bahamas Government (GOV) by the Board of Commissioners of Currency.
