Reverse of the coin (Bahamas and Barbados) Quiz

Answer: Starfish

The reverse design had a starfish with the words "one cent" and the date. The one cent coin was made out of nickel brass. Later one cent coins were made from bronze, brass, and then copper-plated zinc. The reverse design with the starfish actually dated back to 1966.

At first the coins showed Queen Elizabeth on the front with the name "Bahama Islands" (1966-1970), and then "Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands" (1971-1973) before changing to the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas and "Commonwealth of the Bahamas" in 1974.

In 2006, the reverse designed changed to show parts of three starfish.

Answer: Pineapple

The five cent coin (as with the ten cent and fifteen cent coins) was made out of cupro nickel. The reverse of the coin showed an upright pineapple with the word "five" on one side of the leaves of the pineapple and the the word "cents" on the other side. Beginning in 2015, the majority of a larger pineapple was on the reverse with the denomination "5 cents".

Answer: Two bonefish

Rather than the usual round shape, the ten cent coin was scallop shaped. The two bonefish are swimming in front of several underwater plants. The words "ten cents" were at the bottom of the reverse. The change to the design in 2007 moved the words "10 cents" to the top of the design and removed much of the plant life from behind the fish.

Answer: Hibiscus

Rather than the usual round shape, the fifteen cent coin was square shaped. The fifteen cent coin was meant to aid in the transition to decimalization as fifteen cents was roughly equal to one shilling in the previous system. The words "fifteen" and "cents" were found on two adjoining sides of the four sides of the coin.

The original reverse of the coin had a single hibiscus. In 2018 this changed (like with the starfish) to parts of three flowers.

Answer: Sailboat

The twenty five cent coin was made out of nickel. The denomination "twenty five cents" was written near the upper edge of the reverse side. The sailboat (a sloop), on the water, is the focus of the design. The modification of the design in 2007 pushes the sailboat to the side and changes the denomination to "25 cents".

Answer: Swordfish

The first fifty cent coins were made in 80% silver (1966-1973) before the transition to cupronickel in 1974. The swordfish appears to leaping out of the water with its body curved around the words "fifty cents" and the date. A non-circulating 80% silver issue was minted from 1974 to 1980.

Answer: Shell

Like with the fifty cent coins, the one dollar coins were made in 80% silver before 1974 when the composition was changed to cupronickel. In either case, the words "One Dollar" were found at the top of the reverse. A conch shell dominated the reverse with some plants along the lower edge of the reverse. After 1980 several non-circulating versions of the dollar coin were made.

Answer: Flamingoes

The two dollar coins were generally non-circulating. The reverse showed two flamingos facing each other across plant-covered ground. The curve of the necks of the flamingos formed a rough heart shape (though this may have been unintentional. Beginning in 1966, two dollar coins were made in 92.5% silver. Cupro-nickel two dollar coins were first issued in 1974. Like with the dollar coin, the two dollar coin was also made with several other designs (also non-circulating).

Answer: Flag

The flag design was used on both cupro-nickel and 92.5% silver coins of the period. The words "Five Dollars" were above the flag near the upper edge of the reverse. Several additional designs for the reverse were also used in different years. All five dollar coins were non-circulating.

Answer: Broken trident

Since 1975 the Dollar of Barbados has been pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of 2 to 1. The one cent coin was minted in bronze at first before changing to copper-plated zinc in 1992. In either case, the reverse of the coin showed a broken trident. The words "one cent" were along the lower edge of the reverse side.

Answer: Lighthouse

The five cent coin was struck in brass. The reverse shows the South Point Lighthouse, the oldest one in Barbados. It is 89 feet tall and dates to 1852. Behind the lighthouse are both a large cloud and the sun. The words "five cents" are at the lower edge of the reverse.

Answer: Tern

The ten cent coin (and also the twenty five cent coin and one dollar coin) was minted in cupronickel. The tern on the reverse appears to be either taking off or landing rather than in mid-flight. The tern is sometimes referred to as the "swallow of the sea".

Answer: Windmill

The main design of the reverse of the twenty five cent coin showed the Morgan Lewis Windmill which operated from 1727 to 1945. It was one of only two functional windmills in the Caribbean. The words "twenty five cents" were along the lower edge of the reverse. Several designs were used on non-circulating twenty five cent coins in 2018.

Answer: Flying Fish

The one dollar coin was seven sided and showed a flying fish. The flying fish was the national bird of Barbados. Originally minted in cupronickel, later one dollar coins were made out of plated steel. The words "one dollar" were along the lower edge of the reverse. Several designed were issued for non-circulating one dollar coins, usually on planchets with some amount of silver.

Answer: Trigger Fish

Trigger Fish were found on the reverse of two dollar coins. Two dollar coins were generally non-circulating issues. Larger non-circulating denominations issued in Barbadian coin sets included five dollar coins (a fountain) and ten dollar coins (a man paddling in a boat).