1 BZD #44

Front

Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926, reigned 1952–2022), depicted in youthful profile. As head of state of Belize from independence in 1981 until her death, her portrait appeared on the first series of Belizean currency issued by the Central Bank of Belize. The note also features the coat of arms of Belize at left, which includes a shield supported by woodcutters (representing the mahogany industry central to colonial Belize) and the national motto 'Sub Umbra Floreo' (I flourish in the shade). An underwater scene with coral reef motifs appears behind the denomination, referencing the Belize Barrier Reef—the largest barrier reef in the Americas.

Back

The Belize City Court House, a colonial-era building of significant historical and architectural importance in Belize's former capital. The courthouse served as a symbol of British colonial administration and later became an important civic building in independent Belize. The reverse also features the national bird, the keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), at right, and a fish at left, emphasizing Belize's rich biodiversity and natural heritage.

History

This banknote belongs to the first series issued by the Central Bank of Belize following the establishment of the bank in 1982, one year after Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom. The series was issued from 1983 to 1990 under authority of the Central Bank of Belize Act, 1982. The Belize dollar has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 2:1 since 1976. This first series featured Queen Elizabeth II on all denominations, maintaining the connection to the Commonwealth. The series was printed by Thomas De La Rue, the renowned British security printer. These notes were withdrawn from circulation in 1990 when a second series was introduced.