Belize Money

The dollar (currency code BZD) has been the currency of Belize since 1885. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively BZ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents. The Belize dollar is pegged to the US dollar at BZ$2 = US$1. Because of this simple and consistent exchange rate, U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but this means you should be careful to clarify which "dollars" you're talking about when negotiating prices. It's often better to assume Belize dollars because many merchants will jump on your uncertainty and attempt to double their price by saying "No, in US Dollars"

Belize Currency Coins
Coins always seem like a hassle, however when traveling in Belize they come in handy. Many times you will find that small merchants, taxis, buses do not have change for large notes. These are images of Belize coins currently in circulation. Coins are minted in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1 Coins. View Pictures of Coins Currently in Circulation

Belize Currency Banknotes
Banknotes are printed in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. The most commonly used are the $10 and $20 notes. $50 and $100 colones banknotes are hard to spend because most merchant will not have change for higher bills. It is recommended that you ask for smaller bills when exchanging your money. View Pictures of Banknotes Currently in Circulation

History of Money in Belize
The first dollars to circulate in Belize (then called British Honduras) were Spanish dollars, some of which were counterstamped with a crowned GR monogram. They circulated between 1765 and 1825 at a value of 6 shillings 8 pence. In 1825, British coins were introduced for circulation in the colony.
The Guatemalan peso circulated alongside sterling at a value of 4 shillings 2 pence. This became the basis of the dollar. In 1885, bronze 1 cent coins were issued, followed by silver 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins in 1894. This year also saw the first issue of banknotes by the Government and a switch from the silver Guatemalan peso to the gold US dollar as the base for the currency, with $4.866 = 1 pound. The initial proximity of the 25 cent denomination to the value of the shilling lead to this becoming a nickname for these coins.
In 1949, the British pound was devalued from US$4.03 to US$2.80, causing a sudden increase in the value of the British Honduran dollar relative to the pound. This caused protests which lead to a devaluation of the British Honduran dollar to a value of 70 US cents (equal to 5 shillings sterling). In 1967, the British Honduran dollar devalued with the British pound to 60 US cents. In 1978, the link to the British pound of BZ$4 = £1 was replaced by a peg to the US dollar of BZ$2 = US$1.

BELIZE COINS CURRENTLY IN CIRCULATION
Above, 1 cent coin	Above, 5 cent coin
Above, 10 cent coin	Above, 25 cent coin or "Shilling"
Above, 50 cent coin	Above, 1 dollar coin

BELIZE BANKNOTES CURRENTLY IN CIRCULATION

Below - 2 dollar bank note (Front / Back)

Below - 5 dollar bank note (Front / Back)

Below - 10 dollar bank note (Front / Back)

Below - 20 dollar bank note (Front / Back)

Below - 50 dollar bank note (Front / Back)

Below - 100 dollar bank note (Front / Back)