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Coinage of Barbados

Started by <k>, July 24, 2014, 12:58:50 AM

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<k>

Barbados colonial badge.gif

Barbados colonial badge.


Barbados flag.gif

Barbados flag.


From Wikipedia:

Barbados is a sovereign island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and up to 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width, covering an area of 432 square kilometres (167 sq mi). Barbados became independent from Britain in 1966 and retained Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. It has a population of around 282,000.

The national flag of Barbados consists of a triband of two bands of ultramarine, which are said to stand for the ocean; separated by a golden middle band, representing the sand on the island. A black trident-head (commonly called the "broken trident"), is centred within the golden band. The trident symbol was taken from Barbados' colonial badge, where the trident is 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 - 1) government of, 2) for, and 3) by the people.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#1
Barbados 1c 1973.JPG


Barbados introduced its own coinage in 1973.

The set was designed by the English artist and sculptor Philip Nathan.

The 1 cent coin shows the broken trident, with a garland in the form of a letter "B" for Barbados.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#2
Barbados 5c 1973.jpg

The 5 cents coin depicts South Point Lighthouse.


Barbados South Point Lighthouse.jpg


From Wikipedia:

South Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in the south of Barbados. Its height is 89 ft. It is the oldest lighthouse in Barbados. It was brought to Barbados in 1852, one year after being shown at London's Great Exhibition, and reassembled on the southernmost point of the island. Although still listed as active, the lighthouse is now considered to be more of a national landmark and tourist attraction, with its grounds (but not tower) being made open to the public.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#3



The 10 cents coin features Bonaparte's gull.

It is named after Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte.

He was a zoologist and nephew of Napoleon.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#4
Barbados 25c 1973.jpg

The 25 cents coin depicts the Morgan Lewis Windmill


Barbados MorganLewis.jpg


From Wikipedia:

Morgan Lewis Windmill, St. Andrew, Barbados is the last sugar windmill to operate in Barbados. The mill stopped operating in 1947. In 1962 the mill was given to the Barbados National Trust by its owner Egbert L. Bannister for preservation as a museum.

The site was listed in the 1996 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. Restoration began by the Barbados National Trust during the following summer. In 1997, financial support was provided by American Express for emergency repairs. The mill was dismantled for restoration, and reopened in 1999. With all its original working parts having been preserved intact, the sails were able to turn again after the project was completed, and cane was ground again after more than half a century.

It is a unique historic and architectural monument - it is one of the only two working sugar windmills in the world today. (Betty's Hope, in Antigua, was refurbished and restored some years ago and is also functional.) During the 'crop' season, February through July, its sails are put in place and it operates one Sunday in each month, grinding cane and providing cane juice. Around the interior of the mill wall is a museum of sugar mill and plantation artefacts, and an exhibition of old photographs. Visitors can climb to the top of the mill.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#5



The dollar coin portrays the four-wing flying fish, Hirundichthys affinis. Flying fish actually glide rather than fly. They launch themselves into the air by beating their tail very fast and spreading their pectoral fins to use as wings.

The coin is heptagonal. When it was first issued, the heptagon shape was starting to become fashionable, having first been introduced in the UK in 1969, when the 50p coin was produced.


Barbados-Flying fish.jpg
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#6
Barbados $5 1973.JPG

The 1973 collector set included a 5 dollar collector coin.

It was also designed by Philip Nathan.

It depicted the Dolphin Fountain in Bridgetown, the capital.


Barbados Dolphin Fountain.jpg

The fountain was opened in 1865.

It commemorates the introduction of piped water to Bridgetown in March 1861.

The carvings that constitute the fountain include three water-spewing dolphins.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#7
Barbados $10 1973-.JPG


The 1973 collector set included a 10 dollar collector coin.

It was also designed by Philip Nathan.

It depicted Neptune and a dolphin fish - not to be confused with a dolphin, the mammal.

This fish is known as a lampuka in Malta and a dorado in South Africa.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#8
Barbados $10 1973~.jpg


The common obverse of the coins shows the national coat of arms.

The two supporters are a dolphin fish and a pelican.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#9
Barbados $1 1976.jpg

Barbados celebrated its tenth anniversary of independence in 1976.

The coins issued in that year showed the dates 1966 and 1976 on the obverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#10
Barbados map.gif

A map of Barbados, showing its location in the Caribbean sea.


Curiously, the coinage has never included a 50 cents coin.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Prosit

I have been to Bridgetown. I think I took a picture of the lighthouse shown on the lighthouse coin but I can't find it. It is likely on my screensaver at work. Didn't get any coins while I was there.
Dale

Quote from: <k> on July 24, 2014, 01:34:53 AM
Curiously, the coinage has never included a 50 cents coin.

Below is a map of Barbados, showing its location in the Caribbean sea.

<k>

#12


A nice image of the reverse designs.

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

quaziright

#13
Quote from: <k> on July 24, 2014, 01:34:53 AMCuriously, the coinage has never included a 50 cents coin.

I imagine that it's for the same reason that 50 cents went out of circulation in the US AND Canada around the same time .

<k>

Barbados revives plan to remove Queen as head of state and become a republic

Barbados has announced its intention to remove the Queen as its head of state and become a republic by November 2021.

Governor-general Dame Sandra Mason said: "The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state. Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a republic by the time we celebrate our 55th anniversary of independence."

The country gained its independence from Britain in 1966, though the Queen remains its constitutional monarch and head of state. In 2015 the then prime minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, said "We have to move from a monarchical system to a republican form of government in the very near future".

The current Barbadian coinage symbolically references Britain on its 1 cent design and on its flag: The trident symbol was taken from Barbados' colonial badge, where the trident is shown with Britannia holding it. The broken lower part symbolises a symbolic break from its status as a colony. This suggests that after becoming a republic, Barbados would need to redesign its flag and also its 1 cent coin - assuming the 1 cent coin is still used in circulation.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.