Exchange Currency
Cayman Islands dollar
The Cayman Islands Dollar is the currency of the Cayman Islands. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively CI$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100 cents. It is the 9th-highest-valued currency unit in the world and the highest-valued dollar unit.
Canadian and US fractional coinage (USD) were legal tender in Jamaica until October 23, 1863 and silver dollars to 1876. British Pounds Sterling (GBP) were also legal tender. During the 1870s, Jamaica began minting its own local coins and local banks issued banknotes. The Jamaican government began issuing Pound (JMP) banknotes from March 1920 until 1961. British West Indies Dollars (XBWD) were legal tender in Jamaica beginning in 1951, though they had limited circulation. The Bank of Jamaica began issuing banknotes in 1961.
The Jamaican Dollar continued to circulate in the Cayman Islands after it became a separate UK dependency and after Jamaica gained its independence.
The Cayman Islands dollar was introduced in 1972, replacing the Jamaican dollar at par. Jamaican currency and Cayman Islands then remained both legal tender until 1 August 1972 when Jamaican currency ceased to be legal tender. The Cayman Islands dollar has been pegged to the United States dollar at 1 Cayman Islands dollar = 100 U.S. dollars since 1 April 1974.<
br/> The Cayman Islands introduced a currency board, linking the Cayman Island Dollar to the US Dollar at 1.20 USD = 1 KYD. Banknotes were issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board from 1972 until 1998, and currently by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
The first circulating coins were issued in 1972. Up until 1977 the coins were minted by the British Royal Mint. Circulating coins dated between 1977 and 1984 were minted by the Franklin Mint, U.S.A. Coins dated from 1986 to the most recent, dated 2008, have been minted at the British Royal Mint.
All coins bear a portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. The coins minted before 1986 feature her portrait done by Arnold Machin. In 1986 an updated portrait by Rafael Maklouf was used. Since 1999 the coins bear a portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. The design as it appears on the reverse side of the coin remains unchanged from the original issue. However the composition of the coins was changed once in 1992.
In August of 1998 the Authority introduced the "C" series banknotes. The new banknotes are an updated version of the "B" series and reflect changes to the issuing authority, from the Cayman Islands Currency Board to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, and the law under which the notes are issued. The first denominations of the "C" series to be issued were the $10, $5, and $1. The $100 and $25 denominations were issued in August 1999. In 2001 the "C" series $50 banknote was introduced and was later replaced by the 2003 $50 banknote.
In April 2011, the first complete redesign of the Cayman Islands banknotes was introduced with the "D" series. All six denominations have been redesigned, depicting new images, pattern and security features. At the same time many of the familiar elements of the previous notes have been kept for continuity.
All banknotes issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board and the Monetary Authority are legal tender in the Islands, however all series from the "A" series to "C" series banknotes are being withdrawn from circulation.
Summary info
Summary information about Cayman Islands dollar- ISO 4217 Code:
- KYD
- Currency sign:
- $
- Country:
- Cayman Islands
- Subunit:
- cent
- Coins:
- 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents
- Banknotes:
- 1 dollar, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 25 dollars, 50 dollars, 100 dollars
- Central bank:
- Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
History
The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. The Cayman Islands were ceded to Breitain by Spain in 1670 when they became a part of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands became a separate dependency of the United Kingdom on July 4, 1959. It has been a British crown colony since 1962, and has had some self-government since 1972.Canadian and US fractional coinage (USD) were legal tender in Jamaica until October 23, 1863 and silver dollars to 1876. British Pounds Sterling (GBP) were also legal tender. During the 1870s, Jamaica began minting its own local coins and local banks issued banknotes. The Jamaican government began issuing Pound (JMP) banknotes from March 1920 until 1961. British West Indies Dollars (XBWD) were legal tender in Jamaica beginning in 1951, though they had limited circulation. The Bank of Jamaica began issuing banknotes in 1961.
The Jamaican Dollar continued to circulate in the Cayman Islands after it became a separate UK dependency and after Jamaica gained its independence.
The Cayman Islands dollar was introduced in 1972, replacing the Jamaican dollar at par. Jamaican currency and Cayman Islands then remained both legal tender until 1 August 1972 when Jamaican currency ceased to be legal tender. The Cayman Islands dollar has been pegged to the United States dollar at 1 Cayman Islands dollar = 100 U.S. dollars since 1 April 1974.<
br/> The Cayman Islands introduced a currency board, linking the Cayman Island Dollar to the US Dollar at 1.20 USD = 1 KYD. Banknotes were issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board from 1972 until 1998, and currently by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Coins
The Cayman Islands dollar is divisible by one hundred cents. There are four denominations of circulating coins, the 25¢, 10¢, 5¢ and 1¢ coins.The first circulating coins were issued in 1972. Up until 1977 the coins were minted by the British Royal Mint. Circulating coins dated between 1977 and 1984 were minted by the Franklin Mint, U.S.A. Coins dated from 1986 to the most recent, dated 2008, have been minted at the British Royal Mint.
All coins bear a portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. The coins minted before 1986 feature her portrait done by Arnold Machin. In 1986 an updated portrait by Rafael Maklouf was used. Since 1999 the coins bear a portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. The design as it appears on the reverse side of the coin remains unchanged from the original issue. However the composition of the coins was changed once in 1992.
Banknotes
In 1991 the first redesign and upgrade was done on the $100, $25, $10 and $5 denominations. Again in 1996 these four banknotes were updated when the $1 denomination was upgraded and redesigned for the first time. Secondary colours, which highlight the design details of each note, are used in the "B" series banknotes. The notes also included improved security features.In August of 1998 the Authority introduced the "C" series banknotes. The new banknotes are an updated version of the "B" series and reflect changes to the issuing authority, from the Cayman Islands Currency Board to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, and the law under which the notes are issued. The first denominations of the "C" series to be issued were the $10, $5, and $1. The $100 and $25 denominations were issued in August 1999. In 2001 the "C" series $50 banknote was introduced and was later replaced by the 2003 $50 banknote.
In April 2011, the first complete redesign of the Cayman Islands banknotes was introduced with the "D" series. All six denominations have been redesigned, depicting new images, pattern and security features. At the same time many of the familiar elements of the previous notes have been kept for continuity.
All banknotes issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board and the Monetary Authority are legal tender in the Islands, however all series from the "A" series to "C" series banknotes are being withdrawn from circulation.
KYD banknotes pictures gallery
| 1 Cayman Islands dollar | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 1 Cayman Islands dollar has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are silver, dark electric blue, pale aqua and isabelline. | |
 Obverse side of the 1 Cayman Islands dollar is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms, the fish, the treasure chests, the seashells and the sea turtles. |
 Reverse side of the 1 Cayman Islands dollar is showing the angelfish, the coral and the seashell. |
| 5 Cayman Islands dollars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 5 Cayman Islands dollars has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are almond, feldgrau, silver and timberwolf. | |
 Obverse side of the 5 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms, the treasure chests, the seashells and the sea turtles. |
 Reverse side of the 5 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the Schooner, the George town, the coral and the seashell. |
| 10 Cayman Islands dollars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 10 Cayman Islands dollars has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are antique fuchsia, gray, tea rose and lavender mist. | |
 Obverse side of the 10 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms, the treasure chests, the sea shells and the crabs. |
 Reverse side of the 10 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the beach, the treasure chests , the sailing boat, the coral and the seashell. |
| 25 Cayman Islands dollars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 25 Cayman Islands dollars has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are rose taupe, khaki, gainsboro, ash grey and desert sand. | |
 Obverse side of the 25 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms, the treasure chests, the sea shells and the golden sea turtle. |
 Reverse side of the 25 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the Cayman Islands, the coral and the seashell. |
| 50 Cayman Islands dollars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 50 Cayman Islands dollars has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are mountbatten pink, old lavender, moss green, medium spring bud and pale silver. | |
 Obverse side of the 50 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms,the stingrays, the treasure chests, the sea shells and the sea turtle. |
 Reverse side of the 50 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the traditional house, the coral and the seashell. |
| 100 Cayman Islands dollars | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 100 Cayman Islands dollars has dimensions 156×66 mm and main colors are french beige, beaver, ash grey and grullo. | |
 Obverse side of the 100 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coat of arms, the angelfish, the treasure chests, the seashells and the sea turtle. |
 Reverse side of the 100 Cayman Islands dollars is showing the Aerial view of George Town, the coral and the seashell. |
Useful links
- About Cayman Islands Monetary Authority:
- Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
- List of currencies:
- Currencies
- Security and design features of KYD banknotes:
- KYD banknotes
- KYD currency on Wikipedia:
- Cayman Islands dollar
- Official Website of Cayman Islands Monetary Authority:
- www.cimoney.com.ky
- Commemorative coins:
- Commemorative Coins