1 BZD #45

Front

Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022), monarch of Belize from independence in 1981 until her death in 2022. The portrait shows her in profile facing right. The front also features the Coat of Arms of Belize at left showing a mahogany tree with two woodcutters, symbolizing the country's historical logging industry. Text identifies this as issued under the Central Bank of Belize Act, 1982, and dated 1st January 1986. The denomination 'ONE DOLLAR' is prominently displayed, with legal tender text stating payment 'IN BELIZE OF ANY AMOUNT'. Belize, formerly British Honduras, gained independence in 1981 and this note represents the early post-independence currency.

Back

Government House in Belmopan, the capital city of Belize established in 1970 after Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City in 1961. The building depicted is the official government administrative building in the planned inland capital. The reverse also features a keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), the national bird of Belize, shown at right. Local flora decorates the left side of the design, reflecting Belize's rich biodiversity and tropical environment.

History

This note belongs to the first series issued by the Central Bank of Belize following the Central Bank of Belize Act of 1982. Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981, and this series replaced the earlier British Honduras dollar notes. The 1986 date represents a specific print run within the series that circulated from 1983 to 1990. The series maintained the Belize dollar's parity with the US dollar at 2:1 (BZ$2 = US$1), a rate established in 1976 and maintained to the present. The note features Queen Elizabeth II as Belize remained a Commonwealth realm with the British monarch as head of state. This series was eventually replaced by updated designs in 1990.