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Belize became a British settlement in 1665, and a British colony, known as British Honduras, in 1862. It was renamed Belize on June 1, 1973 and gained its independence on September 21, 1981.
 
Spanish silver coins were the primary medium of exchange until the nineteenth century, though some British copper coins also circulated. The first coins were minted for British Honduras in 1885 with the currency based upon the Guatemalan silver peso. However, the anchor for the currency was switched to the US Dollar in October 1894 when the British Honduras Dollar (BZH) was issued at par to the US Dollar. Until then, the Pound Sterling (GBP) and US Dollar (USD) circulated in British Honduras. Though at par to the US Dollar, from December 31, 1949 the British Honduras Dollar was linked to the British Pound Sterling at the rate of 4.8 British Honduras Dollars equal to 1 Pound Sterling. The Belize Dollar (BZD) replaced the British Honduras Dollar on January 1, 1974. Banknotes were issued by the Government of British Honduras from 1894 until 1973 by the Government of Belize from 1974 until 1976, by the Monetary Authority of Belize from 1976 until 1980, and by the Central Bank of Belize from 1981 until today.

This 1991 dated coin is valued at 5 cents. The obverse 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 the denomiation in the center surrounded by a cirlce of beads and date below.

• Weight: 1.7 g
• Diameter: 20.15mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: Not Listed
• Krause # KM-34a

This 25 cent coin is dated 2003. The obverse features the young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right. 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 depicts the denomination in the center of an intricate ornate design with the date below.

• Weight: 5.650g
• Diameter: 23.6mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: Not Listed
• Krause # KM-36

Reverse