Currencies/British Virgin Islands cent
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Introduction
The British Virgin Islands cent is a fractional coin denomination introduced in 1973 as part of the territory’s first official coinage. It was created to accompany the dollar system adopted for the islands and represented the move toward a modern decimal monetary structure.
History
The first official coinage of the British Virgin Islands was issued on 30 June 1973, marking 300 years of the territory’s constitutional history. The coin set included denominations from 1 cent to 1 dollar. Before this issue, the islands had no independent coinage and relied on circulating foreign currencies such as the British sterling, the British West Indies dollar, and later the United States dollar. The cent coin thus symbolized the introduction of a localized monetary identity under British administration.
Coins
The 1 cent coin of the British Virgin Islands was struck in bronze with a weight of about 1.5 grams and a diameter of 17 millimeters. The obverse carries the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Arnold Machin, while the reverse features native Caribbean imagery, including the Green-throated Carib and Antillean Crested Hummingbird. These designs reflected the natural heritage of the islands. Subsequent mintings maintained the same motifs through the 1970s and early 1980s.
Currency
100 cents = 1 dollar
The cent coin was part of the British Virgin Islands’ decimal currency system. Although it was locally issued, the U.S. dollar remained the principal currency used for daily transactions within the islands.
Legacy
The British Virgin Islands cent represents an important step in the development of the territory’s modern monetary framework. It served as the smallest denomination in the 1973 coinage series and reflected both local identity and British influence. Today, the cent remains a recognized part of the islands’ official coinage history, even though other currencies are used in practice.