Caribbean gallery

[andyg]

Here's a brief tour of the currencies of the Caribbean islands.


Reference Map





Aruba.

Aruba's first coins were issued in 1986, prior to this Netherlands Antilles coins were used.

1) 5 Cents, 1998
2) 10 Cents, 1992
3) 25 Cents, 1992
4) 50 Cents, 1990
5) 1 Florin, 1997
6) 2½ Florin, 1991
7) 5 Florin, 2006

All coins feature a portrait of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on the obverse.

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Bahamas,

These coins were originally introduced in 1966 with Elizabeth II portrait, The 1 cent being larger in brass and the 50 Cents and 1 Dollar circulation issues being struck in silver.
Elizabeth II was replaced by the coat of arms in 1974 following independence the year before.  50 Cents and 1 Dollars were last struck in 1989, however I've no proof that these 1989 issues were circulation coins, nor have I ever found any circulated examples.  The 1 Cent was redesigned in 2006 then the 10 Cents in 2007.  In 2009 the 1 cent went a further change being reduced in size.

Arnold Machin designed the Bahamas reverses. He is best known for his portrait of QEII, which appeared on the obverse of the 1966 to 1973 issues, and also in modified form on the definitive stamps of the UK.

1) 1 Cent, 2006, Starfish, (now reduced size)
2) 5 Cents, 1998, Pineapple
3) 10 Cents, 2007, Bonefish
4) 15 Cents, 1974, Chinese hibiscus
5) 25 Cents, 1985, Bahaminian sloop
6) 50 Cents, 1989, Blue marlin

All coins have the coat of arms on the reverse.

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Barbados,

Not much to say about these...
Introduced together in 1973, except for a reduction in size of the 1$ in 1988 they have remained unchanged.  There were some speical commemorative editions dual dated 1966-1976 for the 10th anniversary of independence, of which only the 1 cent circulated.

1) 1 Cent, 1998, Anchor
2) 5 Cents, 1997, South Point Lighthouse
3) 10 Cents, 1996, Laughing gull
4) 25 Cents, 1973, Morgan Lewis sugar mill
5) 1 Dollar, 1988, Flying fish

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Cayman Islands ,

Another unchanged set since it's introduction in 1972, prior to this they used Jamaican coinage.

Stuart Devlin did the reverses of the Cayman Islands. He is best known for Australia's decimal designs and the first independence designs of Singapore.

1) 1 Cent, 1999, Great Caiman thrush
2) 5 Cents, 1999, Shrimp
3) 10 Cents, 1999, Green Turtle
4) 25 Cents, 1999, Caiman schooner

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Next stop Cuba,

First some old issues....
1) Countermarked Spanish 2 Reales, issued by decree in 1841.
2) 5 Centavos 1920 in Copper-Nickel and 3) 5 Centavos 1943 in Brass
These two issues have the weight and fineness of metal inscribed, unusual in non-silver coins.
Oddly they also have the denomination on both sides.
4) 20 Centavos 1948 in Silver
5) 25 Centavos 1988, in Aluminium, struck for visitors from Socialist countries
6) 25 Centavos 1981, in Cupro-Nickel, struck for visitors from Western countries.

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Cuba (2 of 3)

This is the modern set, my apologies for the 1 Peso which is a long way from my usual standard.
The lower denominations still have their values depicted by Roman numerals, something of an oddity nowadays.   The 1 Peso features Jose Marti, whilst the 3 Pesos (end) features Che Guevara for some reason folk on Ebay think that this makes the 3 pesos rare....

1) 1 Centavo, 2003
2) 2 Centavos, 1986
3) 5 Centavos, 2003
4) 20 Centavos, 2001
5) 1 Peso, 2001, Jose Marti
6) 3 Pesos, 1995, Che Guevara

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Cuba (3 of 3)

This is the modern set given to all tourists to spend in selected shops.
It is pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of $1.08.

1) 1 Centavo - Plaza de la Revolucion, Havana
2) 5 Centavos - Colonial style house (Generic)
3) 10 Centavos - Castillo de la Fuerza, Havana
4) 25 Centavos - Church of the Trinity, Havana
5) 50 Centavos - Havana Cathedral
6) 1 Peso - Guama, reconstruction of indian village
7) 5 Pesos - Che Guevara

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Now to the Dominican Republic the Caribbean's largest tourist destination,

First some older coins,
1) ¼ Real, 1848 Struck by the newly independent state.
2) 2½ Centavos, 1888 Struck in Paris, the Dominican Republic went decimal in 1877.
3) 10 Centavos, 1897 again with the privy marks of Paris, in addition this also has the 'A' mintmark.
4) 1 Centavo, FAO issue 1969, from the New Peso series issued in 1937, designed to circulate alongside the US$
5) 25 Centavos 1991, now virtually worthless due to inflation.  The 1 Centavo of this series, issued in 1989 was sets only, and is rather valuable.
6) 1 Peso 1963, Centenary of the republic commemorative issue.

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Dominican Republic (2 of 2)
Modern issues this time all featuring National Heroes,

1) 2002 1 Peso Juan Pablo Duarte
2) 2002 5 Pesos Francisco del Rosario Sanchez
3) 2005 10 Pesos Matias Ramon Mella
4) 2005 25 Pesos Gregorio Luperon

Interesting that the 5 and 10 Pesos have the date of issue on both sides of the coin.
The 1997 5 pesos also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the National Bank and was dual-dated 1947-1997

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Onto the East Caribbean States...

1) 2 Cent 1965
2) 10 Cent 1965
Struck by the Royal Mint for the East Caribbean Territories which in addition to its current members
included Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad & Tobago. The set was designed by Humphrey Paget, who also designed the Golden Hind ship on the reverse of the UK pre-decimal halfpenny.
3) 1 Cent 1999
4) 2 Cents 1997
5) 5 Cents 1995
These three were replaced by round issues in 2002, presumably because they were not compatible with vending machines?

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Here is the modern set,
Originally introduced in 1981, the aluminium 1,2 and 5 cents were modified in 2002, the 1 Dollar was originally struck in Aluminium Bronze and round, it was changed to a copper-nickel 10 sided issue in 1989, then revised to the current round copper-nickel issue in 2002.

1) 1 Cent, 2002
2) 2 Cents, 2002
3) 5 Cents, 2008
4) 10 Cents, 2004
5) 25 Cents, 2002,
6) 1 Dollar, 2004

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Haiti,

Some old designs,
1) 50 Cents, year 24 of the republic (1827), with JP Boyer (president) on the reverse.
2) 2 Centimes, year 43 of the republic or 1846
3) 6¼ Centimes, an unusual denomination in a decimal series, from self-styled emperor Faustin 1st
4) 2 Cent, 1894 and 5) 50 centimes 1883 of the revalued Gourde, these have a strong French influence.
6) 10 Centimes, 1975, with President Jean-Claude Duvalier.

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Haiti, a modern type set....

The 5, 20 and 50 cents have a portrait of Charlemagne Péralte
Oddly the last 10 Centimes to be issued was in 1983.

1) 5 Cents, 1995
2) 20 Cents, 1995
3) 50 Cents, 1995
4) 1 Gourde, 1995,  Citadel of Saint-Christophe.
5) 5 Gourdes, 1995, Four native politicians :  Toussaint L'Ouverture, Christophe, Dessalinesa and Pétion Sabès.

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Jamaica, some older coins

1) Farthing, 1916 - Struck in Copper-Nickel, Jamaican coinage was the first currency to use Copper-Nickel in the British Empire.  (Only Belgium (1861) and the USA (1857) before 1869?)
2) Farthing, 1952 struck in Nickel-Brass, the earlier Copper-Nickel coinage last being issued in 1928
3) 5 Cents, 1989, ??
4) 10 Cents, 1989, ??
5) 20, Cents, 1989, ??
6) 25 Cents, 1989, ??,  in sizes corresponding to their pre-decimal counterparts.
Jamaica was the last colony to use the old size Half-Crown decimal replacement.

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Jamaica, a modern type set.

1) 10 Cents, 1995, The Right Excellent Paul Bogle
2) 25 Cents, 1996, The Right Excellent Marcus Garvey
3) 1 Dollar, 1996, The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante
4) 5 Dollars, 1994, The Right Excellent Norman Manley
5) 10 Dollars, 2005, The Right Excellent George William Gordon
6) 20 Dollars, 2000, The Right Excellent Marcus Garvey.

As at 2009 is has been announced that the 1 and 10 Dollars will be modified to be round.