1 Cent Swallow-Tailed Kite, Silver

Belize gained independence from Britain in 1981, but this coin predates that — issued when the territory was still British Honduras in transition, operating under the name Belize from 1973 onward but not yet sovereign. The 1974 silver issue was part of a proof set aimed squarely at the collector market, a calculated move by the fledgling administration to generate foreign exchange revenue before the country had much else to sell internationally.