Catalog
100 Dollars Kinich Ahau
| Issuer | Belize (1973-date) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1977 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | The national coat of arms of Belize occupies the central field, featuring a quartered shield bearing a paddle, an oar, crossed axes and a sailing ship, flanked by two woodcutters as supporters, each holding a tool over their shoulder, with a mahogany tree rising above the shield as a crest. A scroll beneath the shield bears the national motto in the legend SUB UMBRA FLOREO. The country name BELIZE arcs along the upper rim, while the denomination ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS curves along the lower rim, with the date 1977 and the fineness inscription 500/1000 FINE GOLD appearing in the lower field. A continuous beaded border encircles the entire design. |
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| Reverse description | A stylised Mayan-style depiction of the sun deity Kinich Ahau dominates the central field, rendered in low relief with characteristic iconographic elements including the squared eye, filed incisor teeth, and solar disc motifs drawn from Classic Maya artistic tradition. The design is contained within a beaded border encircling the full periphery of the coin. |
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| Additional information |
Belize gained independence from Britain in 1981, but this coin predates that by four years — issued when the territory was still British Honduras in all but name, having only adopted the name "Belize" in 1973 while remaining a dependent territory. The gold content here is notably low for a commemorative issue of this type; .500 fineness was an unusual choice, and the resulting alloy produces a distinctly pale, almost greenish color in hand.