Coats of arms, colonial vestiges, and their potential numismatic effects

[<k>]

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO



OLD coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago.




NEW coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a country in the Caribbean.

In European terms, Trinidad and Tobago was "discovered" by Christopher Columbus.

The indigenous people were eventually colonised by the Spanish.


In 1797 the British took control of Trinidad and Tobago.

For many years it remained a British colony.


Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from the UK in 1962.

Initially it chose to retain Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.

The country eventually became a republic in 1976.

Trinidad and Tobago updated its coat of arms in January 2025.

It removed the ships of Columbus from the shield.


The ships are now apparently regarded as "colonial vestiges".

This makes them politically incorrect in today's terms.

The ships were replaced by the national musical instrument, a steelpan.


The country's coins show the national coat of arms on the obverse.

The coins will have to be updated at some time in the future.

See:  Trinidad and Tobago changes its coat of arms.

[<k>]

In the 21st century, the symbols and relics of empire, colonialism and slavery are regarded much more harshly than before. Christopher Columbus was once widely admired as an explorer. Now he is often regarded as a vile slave trader. Some other historical explorers and politicians are also now regarded in a very dim light. Occasionally statues of these personalities have been toppled or defaced in recent years.

Many countries got rid of such symbols when they became independent. Not all of them did so, however. In part, the death of Queen Elizabeth II seems to have triggered a reappraisal of historical colonialism. If this trend continues, I would expect some other flags and coats of arms to be changed. Since many countries feature their coat of arms on their coins, this trend may have significant numismatic effects.

[<k>]

MAURITIUS






Coins of Mauritius, 1971.

Mauritius gained its independence from the UK in 1968.

Strangely, it retained the same coinage for many years afterwards.






Current coins of Mauritius.

In 1987 Mauritius removed the Queen's portrait from its coins.

The country became a republic in 1992.

It has added new designs for new 5, 10 and 20 rupee coins.

However, the lower denominations retain their pre-independence designs.


The UK is due to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in the near future.

Will Mauritius then at last remove these colonial vestiges from its coinage?

[<k>]

Coat of arms of Grenada.

Grenada adopted its coat of arms upon independence in 1974. It features a shield divided into four parts by a golden cross. In the centre of this cross is the Santa Maria, Columbus' flagship. A lion passant guardant on a red field is shown in the upper left and lower right sections of the shield, with a golden crescent moon, out of which a lily grows in the upper right and lower left sections.

So Grenada's coat of arms features the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus - a former hero who is now considered by some to be politically incorrect. As for the lion passant guardant, that presumably comes from England. Yet Grenada,  which is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch, is now considering becoming a republic. Will it then retain these colonial vestiges on its coat of arms?

Grenada does not have its own national currency. Since 1965 it has used the East Caribbean dollar. This currency is shared by various countries and territories, who together form a currency union. However, it issues collector coins in its own name. The one shown above features its coat of arms. Will Grenada follow the example of Trinidad and Tobago and amend its national coat of arms?

Grenada, $2, 2021.

[<k>]

Coat of arms of Dominica.

Coat of arms of Saint Lucia.

Dominica and Saint Lucia are two other members of the East Caribbean currency union.

See if you can spot the colonial vestiges on their coats of arms.

[<k>]

Coat of arms of the Bahamas.




Bahamas, 10 cents, 2007.

Look, it's that evil ship "The Santa Maria" again!

Another country infected with this terrible syndrome.

Will the Bahamas also adopt an amended coat of arms?


The country is currently a Commonwealth realm.

However, it is considering becoming a republic.

[<k>]

Flag of Jamaica.

The flag of Jamaica is said to be based on the Scottish saltire.

Should it be replaced?

Coat of arms of Jamaica.

The original design was created in 1661 by William Sancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury.

The present design was adopted after Jamaican independence in 1962, with slight modification.


Surely that is the cross of Saint George we see on the shield?

It has been taken from the flag of England and covered with pineapples.

Another colonial vestige that is ripe for replacement?


Incidentally, Jamaica is another Commonwealth realm considering becoming a republic.

Jamaica, $5, 2014.

[<k>]

BARBADOS



Colonial badge of Barbados.

Here you see the old colonial badge of Barbados.

Britannia is holding a trident.


The modern flag of Barbados features a broken trident.

It symbolises the country's break with Britain.

Flag of Barbados.

From Wikipedia:

A black trident head, commonly called the broken trident, is centred in the golden band. The fact that the staff is missing is significant. The trident symbol was taken from the old colonial badge of Barbados, where the trident of Poseidon was shown with Britannia holding it. The broken lower part symbolises a symbolic break from its status as a colony. The three points of the trident represent the three principles of democracy: government of the people, government for the people, and government by the people.

Reverse of the Barbados 1 cent coin.

The reverse design features the broken trident from the national flag.

Obverse of the Barbados 1 dollar coin.

The coat of arms is featured on the obverse of all Barbadian coins.

It is flanked by two broken tridents.


The Barbadians no doubt had great fun vandalising poor Britannia's trident.

Should we Brits demand reparations for this?


Barbados became a republic in 2021 and is no longer a Commonwealth realm.

Surely it should now rid itself of this colonial vestige?

[<k>]

EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES






British Caribbean Territories: Eastern Group.

Above you see some of the 1955 coins of this old currency union.

It consisted of a few small British colonies in the Caribbean.




Coins of the Eastern Caribbean States currency union.

Eventually the colonies became independent or semi-autonomous British overseas territories.

Some countries left the currency union.


By 1981 it had evolved into the modern East Caribbean States currency union.

The palm leaves and ship designs were retained on the coinage.

Until now Queen Elizabeth's portrait has always appeared on the coin and banknotes.

However, in July 2023 East Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) agreed a new policy.

It decided to remove the monarch's image from the Eastern Caribbean dollar.


In 2024 the ECCU stated that new banknotes should enter circulation by late 2027.

Each denomination will feature dual portraits of two notable ECCU nationals.

The ECCU logo will replace the late Queen's portrait.

King Charles III will never be portrayed on the new currency.

Presumably a new coin series will also follow.

Most of the current coins show the Golden Hind on their reverse.

That was the flagship of Sir Francis Drake, who was a slave trader.

In today's political climate, empire and slavery are viewed as anathema.

I expect that the ECCU will produce a totally new set of reverse designs.

RELATED TOPICS

Coins of the British Caribbean Territories - Eastern Group

Coinage of the East Caribbean States

[<k>]

Coins of Belize.

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, was once a British colony.

It became independent from the UK in 1981.

However, it retained its old coinage series and did not replace it.

It also retained Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.


Belize remains a Commonwealth realm to this day.

King Charles III is now its head of state.



Belize, $1, 1990.

Belize added a $1 denomination to its coinage in 1990.

It depicts the Santa Maria, one of the ships of Christopher Columbus.

Christopher Columbus is no longer politically correct.

No doubt this design will soon disappear from the coinage.


Belize issued a new series of banknotes in January 2025.

They portray national heroes, but not King Charles III nor the late Queen.

Belize is now seriously considering becoming a republic.


Belize is also now planning to update the coinage.

I expect that neither Charles III, nor any reference to Columbus, will be depicted.

RELATED TOPICS 

Belize and the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Belize: national heroes oust UK monarch on new banknotes

[<k>]

Panama, 1 balboa, 2011.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish conquistador, explorer and administrator.

He is best known for leading the first European expedition to sight the Pacific Ocean. 

Balboa is still remembered and venerated in Panama as a heroic explorer.

The Panamanian currency is called the Balboa.


However, Balboa allegedly used dogs to brutally execute indigenous people.

Will his good reputation survive in these censorious times?

Panama, current coin series.

See:  Vasco Núñez de Balboa, national hero of Panama.

[Jostein]

Very interesting thread <k>. We should also talk about the Costa Rican Colón currency named after the now politically incorrect Christopher Columbus, formerly known as a hero, especially between the late 19th and late 20th century. Will they change the name of the currency soon?

And although this has no numismatic effect, I wonder if Trinidad and Tobago will also change the name of its capital city "Port of Spain". It would not be the first time this has happened; Equatorial Guinea has already eliminated all references to Spain from its toponymy shortly after its independence.

Please continue! 

[<k>]

Yes, many names could be regarded as politically incorrect these days. "Tobago" means tobacco. Does that name encourage smoking?