Belize Banknotes: History, Notable Notes & Collecting Guide
The Belize dollar grew out of the British Honduras dollar, and its paper money carries the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 colonial notes all the way to the redesign that finally retired the monarch in 2025.
Last updated: July 2026
The Belize dollar, currency code BZD, is the official currency of Belize, and it is issued by the Central Bank of Belize and pegged to the United States dollar at a fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1, according to the Central Bank of Belize. Known until 1973 as the British Honduras dollar, it is collectible because its notes trace a clean, well-documented arc from a British colony to an independent Commonwealth nation. The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II ran on this currency from the British Honduras issues of 1952 through decades of Belize notes, until the 2025 National Heroes redesign made her the last British monarch to appear on the country's paper money.
What is the history of the Belize dollar and the Central Bank of Belize?
The Belize dollar began as the British Honduras dollar. Government paper money has been issued since 1894, and the Central Bank of Belize has been the sole issuing authority since it was established on 1 January 1982, according to the Central Bank of Belize.
Belize was the British colony of British Honduras, and its first official government notes appeared in 1894, when the currency was placed on a gold basis and paper was issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 dollars, according to the Central Bank of Belize. Note issuance ran through the colonial Board of Commissioners of Currency, the currency board that operated from 1894 to 1976.
Queen Elizabeth II first appeared on the currency in 1952. The fourth issue of Government of British Honduras notes was dated 1952, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1970, and 1973, in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, and $20, with the colony's Coat of Arms at the left and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the right, according to the Central Bank of Belize. These are the classic colonial notes at the heart of most Belize collections.
The colony was renamed Belize in 1973, and the first banknotes bearing the name Belize were issued in 1974, still carrying the Queen Elizabeth II portrait, according to the Central Bank of Belize. Belize became internally self-governing in 1964 and gained full independence on 21 September 1981. The Belize Monetary Authority took over note issuance in 1976, and the Central Bank of Belize succeeded it on 1 January 1982, with the first notes bearing the Bank's own name appearing in 1983. A fully redesigned series in 1990 introduced the country's birds, animals, marine life, and historic buildings, while keeping the monarch's portrait until the 2025 redesign.
Which Belize banknotes are most collectible?
The most collectible Belize notes are the Queen Elizabeth II portrait issues, running from the British Honduras notes through the Belize name change to the final monarch series, a chapter now closed by the 2025 National Heroes redesign.
Belize is a small but coherent country to collect, and most collectors organise their sets around a handful of clear eras. The table below is a general guide to those periods, not a price list, since condition and rarity drive value within each one.
| Era / series | Period | What defines it | Why collectors want it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government of British Honduras, early issues | From 1894 | First colonial government paper money | The foundational British Honduras notes |
| Queen Elizabeth II, British Honduras | 1952 to 1973 | Monarch at right, Coat of Arms at left, $1 to $20 | Classic colonial QEII notes and the last British Honduras series |
| First Belize-name notes | From 1974 | Country renamed, monarch portrait retained | The British Honduras to Belize transition |
| Central Bank of Belize issues | From 1983 | The Bank's own name on the note, QEII retained | First notes of the modern central bank |
| Wildlife and architecture series | From 1990 | Birds, animals, marine life, and historic buildings | Colorful modern designs, monarch still at right |
| National Heroes series | From 2025 | George Cadle Price and Philip Goldson replace the monarch | First Belize notes without a British monarch, closing the QEII chapter |
Within any series, collectors pay close attention to condition, signatures, and serial numbers. A note in uncirculated condition or with a very low serial number is far more desirable than a well-worn example of the same design. Because the monarch portrait has now been retired, well-preserved Queen Elizabeth II notes hold particular interest as the final chapter of a long tradition.
How do you start collecting Belize banknotes?
Pick an era that appeals to you, decide whether you want raw or certified notes, and buy from a source-first dealer that authenticates every note. Belize is small enough to collect broadly yet rich in history.
Because Belize has a compact, well-catalogued history, beginners can set a clear goal, such as one denomination across the reigns, a single Queen Elizabeth II issue, or a run that shows the British Honduras to Belize name change. If you are new to the hobby, our guide on how to collect world banknotes walks through choosing a focus and making a safe first purchase.
Condition is most of a note's value, so learn the grading ladder early. Higher-value Belize and British Honduras notes are often independently graded by PMG or PCGS on a 1 to 70 scale, and our banknote grading guide explains what those grades mean and how they affect price. If you come across an unfamiliar term while researching, our banknote glossary defines the words dealers and catalogs use.
Where can you buy Belize banknotes?
Buy Belize notes from an established, source-first dealer that authenticates every note, offers independent grading on higher-value pieces, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
The safest way to build a Belize collection is to choose where you buy as carefully as what you buy. Look for a dealer that sources notes directly from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors rather than reselling anonymous lots, and that stands behind each note in writing.
Watch for these warning signs. Prices far below every other seller, no stated provenance or sourcing, no returns accepted, and pressure to buy quickly. Genuine dealers are transparent about where a note came from and how it is authenticated.
Every note in Planet Banknote's Belize banknotes collection is inspected through the Planet Banknote Verified process and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity, so you can start or extend a Belize set with confidence.
Related guides
- How to Collect World Banknotes: choosing a focus, raw versus graded notes, and a safe first purchase.
- Banknote Grading Guide: how the PMG and PCGS 1 to 70 scale works, and what UNC and EPQ mean.
- Banknote Glossary: plain-language definitions of the terms used in listings and catalogs.
Frequently asked questions
What currency does Belize use?
Belize uses the Belize dollar, currency code BZD, which is pegged to the United States dollar at a fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1, according to the Central Bank of Belize. It was known until 1973 as the British Honduras dollar. One dollar is divided into 100 cents. Belize banknotes are issued by the Central Bank of Belize, which was established on 1 January 1982.
Who issues Belize's banknotes?
The Central Bank of Belize is the sole issuing authority for the country's banknotes and coins. It was established on 1 January 1982 as the successor to the Belize Monetary Authority, which had taken over note issuance in 1976, according to the Central Bank of Belize. Before that, paper money was issued under the colonial Board of Commissioners of Currency from 1894. The first notes to bear the Central Bank's own name appeared in 1983.
Do Belize banknotes feature Queen Elizabeth II?
Yes. Queen Elizabeth II appeared on British Honduras notes from 1952 and remained on Belize paper money for decades after the colony was renamed Belize in 1973, according to the Central Bank of Belize. In 2025 the Central Bank issued a redesigned National Heroes series honoring George Cadle Price and Philip Goldson, the first Belize notes not to feature a British monarch as the primary portrait. That change makes the earlier Queen Elizabeth II notes a closed chapter for collectors.
What is the difference between British Honduras and Belize banknotes?
British Honduras was the colonial name of the country, and its government issued paper money under that name from 1894. The colony was renamed Belize in 1973, and the first banknotes bearing the name Belize were issued in 1974, according to the Central Bank of Belize. Belize became independent on 21 September 1981. Early Belize notes kept the same Queen Elizabeth II portrait as the late British Honduras issues, so the two eras are closely linked in a collection.
Are older Belize and British Honduras banknotes worth collecting?
Older Belize and British Honduras notes are collected for their history and their connection to the country's path from colony to independent nation. Condition drives value, so uncirculated examples, early signatures, and low serial numbers attract the most interest. Because the 2025 National Heroes series ended the long run of Queen Elizabeth II portraits, the monarch-era notes now represent a completed chapter. Our banknote grading guide explains how condition is measured.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.