New coins to begin circulating on Friday

For decades, Belizeans have carried coins bearing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth the Second. But beginning this month, a new chapter in the country’s monetary history will begin, with redesigned coins that celebrate Belize’s national identity while introducing modern features aimed at improving durability and efficiency. The Central Bank of Belize has unveiled the designs for six new coins that will become legal tender alongside the current coins already in circulation. The National Symbols Coin Series highlights Belizean heritage by featuring national symbols that represent the country’s history, culture, and natural environment. The new coins are being minted by the Royal Canadian Mint and are expected to enter circulation on Friday. Assistant Manager, Currency Management Banking Investment and Currency Department, of the Central Bank of Belize, Delroy Rhaburn says the introduction of the new coins is about more than a change in appearance; it is also about creating currency that reflects Belize.

Delroy Rhaburn, Assistant Manager, Currency Management Banking Investment and Currency Department: “We actually started looking at both the bank notes and currency when Queen Elizabeth II passed in 2022. Traditionally, if a monarch passes, you need to replace their image and their effigy on the currency. So that’s when we started this whole process. So we decided that we would have started with the bank notes first because those are more widely used. During that process as we looked at what the designs were for the bank notes, we wanted something for the coins that would complement it. So as you know, the bank notes celebrated our national heroes. National identity was a big theme there. So we decided that the fitting theme for the coins would have been the national symbols. The national symbols are actually on the bank notes as well but not as prominent. So with the coins, they’re clearly on display. You can see all of them. So we feel like this was a fitting theme to complement those bank notes.”

“We’ve reached a stage where we are, I think me personally as a Belizean, I’m very proud and the Central Bank is also very proud to be introducing this new set of coins because for the first time ever, the full set of Belizean coins represents Belizean national identity. And that’s something to be proud of. And like Delroy says, this complements the banknote series that was introduced in 2025 so that now we are presenting a fully unified, Belizean set of currency. And that’s something to be celebrated. And the theme for the launch of the new coin series is “Belize in Every Coin.” And what we’re essentially saying by this is that once entered into circulation, people, once they start transacting with the coins, they will physically have a piece of Belize, a piece of our history, our heritage in every single coin that they use.”

The Central Bank says the new National Symbols Coin Series represents an opportunity to place Belize’s own story and symbols in the hands of citizens every day.