The Barbadian Dollar has been the currency of Barbados since 1973, when it replaced the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively BBD $ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies.
Apart from the regular circulating coinage, the country has also authorised some foreign mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction. Some of these are in the half gram of gold mini-coin format.
This mini gold coin commemorates the 115th anniversary of the first release of the American "Indian Head" gold pieces.
The Indian Head gold pieces or Pratt-Bigelow gold coins were two separate coin series, identical in design, struck by the United States Mint: a two-and-a-half-dollar piece, or quarter eagle, and a five-dollar coin, or half eagle. The quarter eagle was struck from 1908 to 1915 and from 1925 - 1929. The half eagle was struck from 1908 to 1916, and in 1929. The pieces remain the only US circulating coins with recessed designs. These coins were the last of their denominations to be struck for circulation, ending a series that began in the 1790s. |