Everything about Barbadian Dollar totally explained
The
dollar has been the
currency of
Barbados since
1882. The present dollar has the
ISO 4217 code
BBD and is normally abbreviated with the
dollar sign "$" or, alternatively, "Bds$" to distinguish it from other
dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100
cents.
History
The first currency denominated in dollars to be issued on Barbados was in the form of private banknotes introduced in 1882. No subdivisions of the dollar were issued and these notes circulated alongside
sterling, together with 1 pound notes issued by the government in 1917.
From 1920, some of the private banknotes also carried a denomination in sterling, with 1 dollar = 4
shillings 2
pence. In 1935, the
British West Indies dollar was introduced, equal in value to the Barbados dollar and other dollars in use in the
British West Indies. Between 1938 and 1949, the Barbados government also issued paper money denominated in dollars. The last private bank issues were also made in 1949. In 1965, the
East Caribbean dollar replaced the British West Indies dollar on Barbados.
The present dollar was created after the establishment of the
Central Bank of Barbados (CBB), which was founded by Act of
parliament in May,
1972. The Barbados dollar replaced the East Caribbean dollar at par in
1973. Since
July 5,
1975, the Barbados dollar has been
pegged to the
US dollar at USD1 = BBD2.
Coins
In 1973, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar. Until 1991, the 1 cent was struck in bronze. Since 1992,
copper-plated
zinc has been used. The 5 cents is struck in
brass, whilst the highest three denominations are struck in
cupro-nickel. The 1 dollar coin has an
equilaterally-curved-
heptagonal shape. Many of the coins in circulation have been struck at the
Royal Canadian Mint.
Banknotes
In 1882, the Colonial Bank introduced notes for 5 dollars. In 1920, 20 and 100 dollars notes were also issued by this bank. In 1922,
Barclays Bank, having taken over the Colonial Bank, began issuing 5, 20 and 100 dollars notes. The higher denominations ceased production in 1940 but the 5 dollars continued to be issued until 1949.
The
Royal Bank of Canada introduced notes in 1909, in denominations of 5, 20 and 100 dollars. From 1920, these notes also bore the denomination in sterling, with 5 dollars = 1 pound 10 pence, 20 dollars = 4 pounds 3 shillings 4 pence and 100 dollars = 20 pounds 16 shillings 8 pence. Notes were issued until 1938. The
Canadian Bank of Commerce issued notes between 1922 and 1940, also in denominations of 5, 20 and 100 dollars.
Between 1938 and 1949, the government issued notes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 20 and 100 dollars. All bore the portrait of
King George VI.
In 1973, the Central Bank of Barbados introduced notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 100 dollars. The 1 dollar note wasn't issued again, with 2 dollars notes introduced in 1980, followed by 50 dollars in 1989. Banknotes currently in circulation are:
- 2 dollars (blue)
- 5 dollars (green)
- 10 dollars (brown)
- 20 dollars (purple)
- 50 dollars (orange)
- 100 dollars (grey)
The defunct 1 dollar note was red in colour and had Samuel Jackman Prescod on the obverse.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Barbadian Dollar'.
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