Decimal coinage of Jamaica

[<k>]

Inflation was still rising, and in 1999 a new denomination was needed: a $10 coin. This was a scalloped coin, made of nickel-plated steel. Interestingly, the obverse design separates the word "DOLLAR" from the year with a hyphen.

George William Gordon (1820-1865)  was a Jamaican businessman, magistrate and politician who was a leading critic of the policies of the governor of Jamaica Edward Eyre. On Eyre's orders, he was executed after the Morant Bay rebellion. Gordon's execution created huge controversy in Britain, and several attempts were made to charge Eyre with murder. On the centenary of his death, he was proclaimed a National Hero of Jamaica.

[<k>]

In 2008 a new version of the $10 coin was issued.

It was made of nickel-clad steel. In shape, it was round, but it had a polygonal inner rim.


Other countries have switched from polygonal coins to round coins with an inner polygonal rim.

The coinage of the East Caribbean States represents another such case.


The coin still carried the portrait of George William Gordon.

Interestingly, there was no hyphen between the word "DOLLAR" and the year.

[<k>]

Meanwhile, in 2000 Jamaica's highest denomination coin to date had been issued - only a year after the first circulation $10 coin. It was bimetallic and bore the portrait of Marcus Garvey. Strangely, it circulated concurrently with the 25 cents coin, which also portrayed Garvey.

The coin had a copper-nickel centre within a brass ring. It was issued from 2000 to 2008 inclusive. However, from 2008 a different version of the coin was issued, which had a nickel-plated steel within a brass ring. Otherwise, the obverse and reverse designs and the dimensions were as before.

[<k>]

Meanwhile, in 2008 yet another change took place.

From that year onward, the $1 coin was made round but with a heptagonal inner rim.

[<k>]

Most of the portraits that appear on the coins since the 1990s are taken from Jamaica's banknotes.

This makes me wonder who will be the next new personality to appear on a Jamaican coin.

 

[<k>]

The Jamaicans moved from an attractive wildlife-themed series, to an equally attractive series with fine portraits of their national heroes. There are many variations among the coins, with some having been issued as commemoratives and earlier coins appearing as FAO-themed versions.

[<k>]

See also:

Circular coins that have an inner polygonal rim

Coin designs that were taken from banknotes

[Big_M]

Jamaica issued a commemorative version of the 50 cents coin in 1987, to celebrate the centenary of Garvey's birth.

Does anybody know whether it circulated?

Proof sets only - max. 500.

[<k>]

Thank you. Big_M. The same few personalities appeared on several designs. The "coup" of the portrait above is different from the previous designs.

[Big_M]

A round $5 coin was issued in 1993 only, but I do not know whether that was a circulation coin.

The coin, issued for Manley's centenary of birth, appears to have circulated, it is often offered for sale in circulated condition.

[<k>]

Thank you. I'll have to find an image of it.

[Pabitra]

Jamaica demonetised smaller coins in 2017.
10 cents and 25 cents are neither issued nor legal tender any longer.
Thus the currency is now just " Dollars"

Also see

No 'rounding tax' expected from demonetising small coins | Business | Jamaica

[<k>]

Interesting. But what about the 50 cents coin? Presumably, like the Americans, they prefer not to use it?

Surely a redenomination must be on the way.

[Pabitra]

50 Cents for circulation series was last minted in 1984 and done away with thereafter.,