Flags, Symbols & Currency of Bermuda
The flag of Bermuda with a British red ensign was first adopted on October 4, 1910. The flag was changed to its current form in 1999.
The current flag features a red background with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag. The red color and the Union Jack represents Bermuda’s unique colonial heritage as well as its current status as a British territory. The flag has a width-length proportion ratio of 1:2.
History of the flag of Bermuda
The British ship Sea Venture that was destined for Virginia with about 150 settlers aboard was wrecked on reefs off Bermuda in the summer of 1609 during a hurricane. In 1635 an illustration of this scene was used in the first emblem of the island. Bermuda has only one flag of its own and it adopted the first design of the current flag in 1910. The current flag of Bermuda adopted in 1999 differs from the 1910 design only in that the coat of arms is smaller in the 1910 flag.
Historical Flags of Bermuda
Former Flag of Bermuda
Former Flag of Bermuda
Symbols of Bermuda
The National Coat of Arms of Bermuda
The Coat of Arms of Bermuda was adopted on October 4, 1910, and is placed on the center-right of its national flag. It depicts a red English lion holding a shield that has a depiction of a wrecked ship upon it. The red lion is a symbol of England and alludes to Bermuda's relationship with the United Kingdom. The wrecked ship symbolizes the colony’s foundation. It is the Sea Venture - the flagship of the Virginia Company that was deliberately driven on to the reefs of Bermuda, by Admiral Sir George Somers, in 1609, to prevent it from foundering in a storm. All the surviving members aboard the ship laid the foundations for the colony that eventually developed into modern Bermuda. Below the shield is the Latin text: “Quo Fata Ferunt” (“Whither the Fates Carry Us”).
National Motto:
"Quo Fata Ferunt" ("Whither the Fates Carry Us")
National Anthem
As Bermuda is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, the official anthem of Bermuda is "God Save the Queen", which is the national anthem of the United Kingdom. A local territorial anthem written and composed by Bette Johns also exists, and is entitled "Hail to Bermuda".
"Hail to Bermuda" (Territorial Anthem)
Hail to Bermuda,
My island in the sun.
Sing out in glory
To the nation we've become.
We've grown from heart to heart,
And strength to strength,
The privilege is mine
To sing long live Bermuda,
Because this island's mine!
Hail to Bermuda,
My homeland dear to me.
This is my own land
Built on faith
And unity.
We've grown from heart to heart
And strength to strength,
For Loyalty is Prime
So sing long live Bermuda,
Because this island's mine!
The Currency of Bermuda is the Bermudian dollar
The current official currency of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda is the Bermudian Dollar (BD$, BMD). It is divided into 100 cents.
Coins
In 1970, the Bermuda Monetary Authority introduced coins with 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cent denominations. The 5-dollar coin was withdrawn from circulation on January 1, 1990, and the 50-cent denomination was withdrawn on May 1, 1990. All denominations of the coins of Bermuda depict the ruling monarch of the United Kingdom (currently Queen Elizabeth II). Occasionally commemorative coins are also released.
Banknotes
In 1970, the government introduced dollar notes in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 denominations. The Bermuda Monetary Authority introduced 100 dollars notes in 1982 and 2 dollars in 1988. The 1 dollar note was replaced by a coin. All the ‘legacy banknotes’ of the 1970s printed with Bermuda Government written on it were withdrawn from circulation on January 1, 2014, and exchanged for new banknotes with Bermuda Monetary Authority written over it.
Bermudian dollar Banknote
Historical currencies of Bermuda
Bermuda used the Spanish Dollar for over 400 years just like its other Caribbean neighbors. The Sterling became the official currency of Bermuda in 1842. In the 1850s the Spanish Dollar was withdrawn from circulation but again brought back into circulation in the 1870s. The legislation was enacted in 1876 to prevent the Spanish Dollar from returning to circulation. Until 1970, the Sterling remained the official currency of Bermuda. On February 6, 1970, the Bermudian Dollar was introduced along with the Sterling which was then in circulation. The Sterling era ended in 1972 and control over Sterling was abolished in 1979.
Sterling pound
