Government of British Honduras Notes

Belize’s first bank notes were issued under the Government of British Honduras in 1894.

On 1 January 1981, the Monetary Authority of Belize demonetized all notes issued under the Currency Ordinance 1965 by the Board of Commissioner of Currency. The Government of British Honduras notes therefore are not legal tender of Belize and are redeemable only at the Central Bank of Belize.  Coins issued under the Government of British Honduras are still legal tender of Belize.

Under the Government of British Honduras there were four issues of bank notes:

First Issue
The first issue was in 1894 with six denominations $1, $2, $5, $10, $50 and $100; all these notes are rare and are not available for display.

Second Issue
The design of the second issue of the Government of British Honduras bank notes changed–includes notes printed in 1895, 1912, 1924 and 1928. This issue also had six denominations $1, $2, $5, $10, $50 and $100; all these bank notes are rare and not available for display.

Third Issue
The third issues of notes were dated 1939, 1942, 1947, 1949 and 1951 with four denominations $1, $2, $5 and $10. In this issue the design incorporated Belize’s Coat of Arms at the left and a portrait of King George VI at the right.

Fourth Issue
The fourth issues of notes were dated 1952, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1970 and 1973 with five denominations $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20. This issue maintained the design of the third, with Belize’s Coat of Arms at the left and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second at the right.