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Christopher Columbus discovered the island of San Salvador in 1492. British colonists from Carolina settled in 1629 at New Providence. Although Spanish forces removed the British in 1641 and in 1703, the islands were finally ceded to Britian by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. The Bahamas were a British Crown Colony until they achieved self-government in 1965, and gained its independence on July 10, 1973.
 
Portuguese Joes from Brazil circulated in the Bahamas in the 1700s. the first coins were issued for the Bahamas in 1806. The Bahamas used Pound Sterling (GBP) notes and coins as legal tender until November 1, 1936. The Bahamas began issuing Pound Sterling banknotes (BHP) in 1869. The Pound was divisible into 20 Shillings and 240 Pence. On May 25, 1966, the Bahamas replaced the Bahamas Pound with the Bahamas Dollar (BHD) at the rate of 1 Bahamas Dollar equal to 7 Shillings equal to 0.98 US Dollars, or 2.86 Bahama Pounds. The Dollar is divisible into 100 Cents. The Bahamas used a currency board from 1916 to 1974. Banknotes were issued by the Bahamas Government from 1869 until 1968, by the Bahamas Monetary Authority from 1968 until 1974, and by the Central Bank of the Bahamas from 1974 until today.

Here is a 2 cent coin adted 1966. The obverse of the coin features the young bust facing right of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth was born 'Elizabeth Alexandra Mary' on April 21st, 1926. She is the reigning queen and head of state of 16 independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms, as Head of the Commonwealth, she is the figurehead of the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations and, as the British monarch, she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The reverse depicts a starfish in the center, the date below, and the value at the top.

• Weight: 4.160g
• Diameter: 23mm
• Material: Nickel-Brass
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 7,312,000
• Krause # KM-2

This 1969 dated coin is valued at 5 cents. The obverse features the young bust facing right of Queen Elizabeth II. In February 1945, the then Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. She trained as a driver and mechanic, drove a military truck, and is now the last surviving head of state who served in uniform during the Second World War. The reverse shows a pineapple adorned with garland below, with the date and value to either side.

Note: The obverse of this coin also comes muled with the reverse of a New Zealand 2-cent piece, KM#32. The undated 1967 error is listed as New Zealand KM#33.

• Weight: 3.870g
• Diameter: 21mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 2,026,000
• Krause # KM-3

This 10 cent coin is dated 1966. The obverse features the young bust facing right of Queen Elizabeth II within a beaded circle. Although Queen Elizabeth's birth placed her third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward (Prince of Wales), and her father. Due to the death of King George V in 1936, the 1936 abdication of her uncle, King Edward, and the Febuary death of King George VI in 1952 ....The little girl born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, became Queen Elizabeth in Febuary 1952. The reverse depicts bone fish in the center, date above and value below, all within a beaded circle.

• Weight: 6.550g
• Diameter: 23.5mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 2,198,000
• Krause # KM-4

Here is a 1974 dated 1 cent coin. While minted during the rule of Queen Elizabeth II, the coin does not feature her on the obverse. The obverse instead shows the National Coat of Arms. The coat of arms of the Bahamas contains a shield with the national symbols as its focal point, the shield is supported by a marlin and flamingo. The reverse depicts a starfish in the center, with the value above.

• Weight: 3.160g
• Diameter: 19mm
• Material: Brass
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage:1974 11,000
  1974FM (M) 71,000
  1974FM (P) 94,000
• Krause # KM-59

• Weight: g
• Diameter: mm
• Material:
• Edge:
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM-

Reverse