Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Cents 1974-2006, KM# 60, Bahamas
  • 5 Cents 1974-2006, KM# 60, Bahamas
Description

The Bahamas is an archipelagic state within the Lucayan Archipelago. It consists of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, and is located north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, southeast of the United States state of Florida, and east of the Florida Keys. The capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence.

The Bahamas is the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492. The Bahamas became a British crown colony in 1718, when the British clamped down on piracy. After the American War of Independence, the Crown resettled thousands of American Loyalists in the Bahamas; they brought their slaves with them and established plantations on land grants. Africans constituted the majority of the population from this period. The Bahamas became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1973, retaining the British monarch as its head of state.

Obverse

Coat of arms and motto of the Bahamas.

The Coat of Arms of the Bahamas contains a shield with national symbols as its focal point. The escutcheon (shield) is supported by a marlin and flamingo. The crest on top of the helm (helmet) is a conch shell, which represents the varied marine life of the island chain. Below the helm is the escutcheon itself, whose main charge is a ship, reputed to represent the Santa María of Christopher Columbus. It is sailing beneath a sun in the chief. The animals supporting the shield are the national animals, and the national motto is found at the bottom. The flamingo is located upon land, and the marlin upon sea, indicating the geography of the islands.

The Coat of Arms was approved by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 December 1971. It was designed by Bahamian artist and clergyman, Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Jr.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
FORWARD, TOGETHER
UPWARD , ONWARD
1974

Reverse

Depicts a pineapple (Ananas comosus) above the garland and the denomination at the top. Mintmark (if any) below.

FIVE CENTS
FM

Edge

5 Cents

Non-magnetic
KM# 60 Schön# 35
Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 3.94 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 1.53 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Franklin Mint (FM)
Royal Mint

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