# **Co-operative Republic of Guyana**
## **Full Financial History Report**

---

### **Basic Data:**

- **ISO Country Code:** GY
- **Official Language:** English
- **ISO Language Code:** en
- **Current Official Currency:** Guyanese Dollar
- **ISO Currency Code (current):** GYD

---

## **2. Currencies Circulated in Guyana (since the beginning of monetary production)**

---

### **2.1. Spanish Real and British Pound (Historical Foreign Currencies)**

- **ISO Code:** —
- **Singular Name:** Real / Pound
- **Plural Name:** Reales / Pounds
- **Monetary Subdivision:** 1 Real = 8 reales pequeños / 1 Pound = 20 shillings
- **Fraction Singular Name:** Shilling / Centavo
- **Fraction Plural Name:** Shillings / Centavos
- **Start Date of Production:** c. 1650 *(under Dutch and early British colonial rule)*
- **End Date of Production:** 1839
- **Start Date of Circulation:** c. 1650
- **End Date of Circulation:** 1839
- **Mint:** Royal Mint (UK), Spanish Mints
- **Issuing Bank:** Not applicable *(used under colonial rule)*
- **Coin Denominations:** ¼, ½, 1, 2, 4, 8 reales; 1 penny, 1 shilling
- **Banknote Denominations:** £1, £5, £10, £20
- **Historical Context:** Used during Dutch, Dutch-British transition and early British colonial period.
- **Designs / Symbols:** British monarchs, Dutch heraldry, colonial motifs
- **Current Status:** Out of circulation
- **Issuing Authority:** British Crown
- **Relevant Legislation:** Colonial Monetary Acts
- **People Honored on Notes:** King George III, Queen Victoria

---

### **2.2. British Guiana Dollar (GYD)** – **First Issue (Pegged to Pound)**

- **ISO Code:** GYD
- **Singular Name:** Dollar
- **Plural Name:** Dollars
- **Monetary Subdivision:** 1 Dollar = 100 cents
- **Fraction Singular Name:** Cent
- **Fraction Plural Name:** Cents
- **Start Date of Production:** 1839
- **End Date of Production:** 1967
- **Start Date of Circulation:** 1839
- **End Date of Circulation:** 1967
- **Mint:** Royal Mint (UK)
- **Issuing Bank:** British Treasury
- **Coin Denominations:** 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 cents; 1, 2, 4 shillings
- **Banknote Denominations:** $1, $2, $5, $10, $20
- **Historical Context:** Introduced after decimalization in 1839, replacing British pounds and shillings.
- **Designs / Symbols:** British royal symbols, colonial motifs
- **Print Runs / Commemorative Issues:** Issued by the British government
- **Curiosities:** Coins with portraits of Queen Victoria and King George VI
- **Current Status:** Out of circulation
- **Issuing Authority:** British Colonial Government
- **Relevant Legislation:** Decimalization Act (1839)
- **Signatories on Notes:** Governor of British Guiana
- **People Honored on Notes:** Queen Victoria, King George VI

---

### **2.3. Guyanese Dollar (GYD)** – **Current Official Currency**

- **ISO Code:** GYD
- **Singular Name:** Guyanese Dollar
- **Plural Name:** Guyanese Dollars
- **Monetary Subdivision:** 1 Dollar = 100 cents
- **Fraction Singular Name:** Cent
- **Fraction Plural Name:** Cents
- **Start Date of Production:** 1967
- **End Date of Production:** Ongoing
- **Start Date of Circulation:** 1967
- **End Date of Circulation:** In circulation
- **Mint:** Royal Mint (UK), De La Rue, Valcambi
- **Banco emissor:** Bank of Guyana
- **Coin Denominations:** $1, $5, $10, $100
- **Banknote Denominations:** $20, $50, $100, $500, $1000
- **Historical Context:** Introduced at independence in 1966, replacing the British Guiana dollar.
- **Designs / Symbols:** National flag, coat of arms, native wildlife
- **Print Runs / Commemorative Issues:** Series issued in 1967, 1996, 2006, and 2021
- **Curiosities:** Current notes include Braille features for visually impaired users
- **Current Status:** Active
- **Issuing Authority:** Bank of Guyana
- **Relevant Legislation:** Bank of Guyana Charter Act (1965)
- **Signatories on Notes:** Governor of the Bank of Guyana
- **People Honored on Notes:** None — national symbols dominate designs

---

## **3. Mints / Casas da Moeda**

- **Royal Mint** *(United Kingdom)*
- **De La Rue Currency** *(banknote printing)*
- **Valcambi** *(coin minting)*

---

## **4. Chronological Summary of Currency Changes**

| Year | Currency Change | Equivalence |
|------|------------------|-------------|
| 1839 | British Pound → British Guiana Dollar | 1 Pound = $4.80 |
| 1967 | British Guiana Dollar → Guyanese Dollar | 1:1 |

---

## **5. Additional Curiosities**

- The first Guyanese coins included indigenous symbols and local animals.
- Some banknotes from the 1960s are now collectible items.
- The $1 coin was introduced in 1996 to replace low-value paper currency.
- The Bank of Guyana regularly issues updated series to improve security and durability.

---

## **6. Historical Issuing Authorities**

- British Colonial Government
- Bank of Guyana *(since 1965)*

---

## **7. Key Monetary Legislation**

- Decimalization Act *(1839)*
- Bank of Guyana Charter Act *(1965)*
- Currency and Coinage Act *(periodically updated)*

---

## **8. Prominent Figures Featured on Banknotes**

- No individual persons featured on current or recent banknotes
- Historical British figures appeared on older colonial-era notes
- National symbols such as the national bird (*Rufous-tailed Jacamar*), coat of arms, and motto *"One People, One Nation, One Destiny"* are main design elements