Netherlands Antillean gulden
Encyclopedia
The guilder is presently the currency of two of the five islands which until 2010 formed the Netherlands Antilles
. It is subdivided into 100 cents (Dutch plural form: centen). The guilder was replaced by the US dollar on 1 January 2011 on the other former islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. On Curaçao
and Sint Maarten, the Netherlands Antillean guilder will be replaced by the newly created Caribbean guilder
no earlier than 2013.
, Bonaire and Curaçao
, the guilder is called a "florin". The ISO-4217 code, ANG, is derived from ANtilleaanse Gulden, while the currency symbol, NAFl, is derived from Netherlands Antilles Florin.
Between 1799 and 1828, the reaal
circulated on the islands, with 1 reaal = 6 stuiver or 3⅓ reaal = 1 guilder. The Dutch guilder was reintroduced in 1828, now subdivided into 100 cents. When currency began once more to be issued specifically for use in the Netherlands Antilles, it was issued in the name of Curaçao
, with the first banknotes and coins, denominated in the Dutch currency, introduced in 1892 and 1900, respectively. The name "Netherlands Antilles" (Nederlandse Antillen) was introduced in 1952.
In 1940, following the German
occupation of the Netherlands, the link to the Dutch currency was broken, with a peg to the U.S. dollar
of 1.88585 guilders = 1 dollar established. The peg was adjusted to 1.79 guilders = 1 dollar in 1971.
In 1986, Aruba
gained a status aparte and thereby left the Netherlands Antilles. Shortly after that, Aruba began to issue its own currency, the Aruban florin
, which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder at par.
In 1900 and 1901, silver and ¼ guilder coins were introduced which circulated alongside Dutch coins. Following the German occupation of the Netherlands and the separation of the Netherlands Antillean currency from the Dutch, a bronze 1 cent coin was introduced in 1942, followed by a cupro-nickel 5-cent coin in 1943. Bronze 2½ cent and silver 1 and 2½ guilders were introduced in 1944. The coinage of 1941-44 was minted in the United States and carries "P" or "D" mintmarks, and for most denominations a small palm tree. This money was also intended for use in Suriname
. The alternate Dutch names for some of these coins are: 5 cent--stuiver; 10 cent--dubbeltje; 25 cent--kwartje; and 2½ guilders--rijksdaalder.
From 1952, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the coins. In 1970, nickel replaced silver, although the 2½ guilder coin was not reintroduced until 1978. Aluminium
1 and 2½ cents were introduced in 1979. In 1989, aluminium 5 cent, nickel-bonded-steel 10, 25 and 50 cents, and aureate-steel 1 and 2½ guilders were introduced. Aureate-steel 5 guilder coins followed in 1998.
From 1954, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the reverse of the notes of the Curaçaosche Bank and, from 1955, the muntbiljet (2½ guilders only) was issued in the name of the Nederlandse Antillen. In 1962, the bank's name was changed to the Bank van de Nederlandse Antillen. In 1970, a final issue of muntbiljet was made in denominations of both 1 and 2½ guilders. The 500 guilder note was not issued after 1962.
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
. It is subdivided into 100 cents (Dutch plural form: centen). The guilder was replaced by the US dollar on 1 January 2011 on the other former islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. On Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and Sint Maarten, the Netherlands Antillean guilder will be replaced by the newly created Caribbean guilder
Caribbean guilder
The Caribbean guilder is the proposed currency of the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten which formed after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October 2010. The Netherlands Antillean guilder is expected continue to circulate until 2013 as the currency was not finalised in...
no earlier than 2013.
Naming
In Papiamentu, the local language of ArubaAruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Bonaire and Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the guilder is called a "florin". The ISO-4217 code, ANG, is derived from ANtilleaanse Gulden, while the currency symbol, NAFl, is derived from Netherlands Antilles Florin.
History
In the 18th century, the Dutch guilder circulated in the Netherlands Antilles. This was supplemented in 1794 by an issue of coins specific for the Dutch holdings in the West Indies. At this time, the guilder was subdivided into 20 stuiver.Between 1799 and 1828, the reaal
Curaçao reaal
The reaal was the currency of Curaçao until 1828. It was subdivided into 6 stuiver, with 20 stuiver equal to the Dutch gulden.-History:Between 1799 and 1815, 12 reaal were equal to a Spanish dollar . From 1815 until 1828, 15 reaal were equal to a Spanish dollar. Many of the coins were produced from...
circulated on the islands, with 1 reaal = 6 stuiver or 3⅓ reaal = 1 guilder. The Dutch guilder was reintroduced in 1828, now subdivided into 100 cents. When currency began once more to be issued specifically for use in the Netherlands Antilles, it was issued in the name of Curaçao
Curaçao and Dependencies
The Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies was a Dutch colony from 1815 until 1828 and from 1845 until 1936. Between 1936 and 1948, the area was known as the Territory of Curaçao , and after 1948 as the Netherlands Antilles...
, with the first banknotes and coins, denominated in the Dutch currency, introduced in 1892 and 1900, respectively. The name "Netherlands Antilles" (Nederlandse Antillen) was introduced in 1952.
In 1940, following the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation of the Netherlands, the link to the Dutch currency was broken, with a peg to the U.S. dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
of 1.88585 guilders = 1 dollar established. The peg was adjusted to 1.79 guilders = 1 dollar in 1971.
In 1986, Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
gained a status aparte and thereby left the Netherlands Antilles. Shortly after that, Aruba began to issue its own currency, the Aruban florin
Aruban florin
The florin is the currency of Aruba. It is subdivided into 100 cents. The florin was introduced in 1986, replacing the Netherlands Antillean guilder at par.-History:...
, which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder at par.
Coins
In 1794, silver coins were issued for use in the Dutch West Indies in denominations of 2 stuiver, ¼, 1 and 3 guilders. After the reintroduction of the Dutch guilder in 1828, some 1 guilder coins were cut into quarters and stamped with a "C" in 1838 to produced ¼ guilder coins.In 1900 and 1901, silver and ¼ guilder coins were introduced which circulated alongside Dutch coins. Following the German occupation of the Netherlands and the separation of the Netherlands Antillean currency from the Dutch, a bronze 1 cent coin was introduced in 1942, followed by a cupro-nickel 5-cent coin in 1943. Bronze 2½ cent and silver 1 and 2½ guilders were introduced in 1944. The coinage of 1941-44 was minted in the United States and carries "P" or "D" mintmarks, and for most denominations a small palm tree. This money was also intended for use in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. The alternate Dutch names for some of these coins are: 5 cent--stuiver; 10 cent--dubbeltje; 25 cent--kwartje; and 2½ guilders--rijksdaalder.
From 1952, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the coins. In 1970, nickel replaced silver, although the 2½ guilder coin was not reintroduced until 1978. Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
1 and 2½ cents were introduced in 1979. In 1989, aluminium 5 cent, nickel-bonded-steel 10, 25 and 50 cents, and aureate-steel 1 and 2½ guilders were introduced. Aureate-steel 5 guilder coins followed in 1998.
| The five guilder coin is produced from aureate steel. The spots on the obverse are the result of corrosion, and are not a typical feature of the coin. Octagonal ridges are built into the face to help distinguish it from the similar one guilder coin. The face features Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University... , while the obverse has the coat of arms of the Netherlands Antilles. |
||
| The one guilder coin is produced from aureate steel. The face features Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University... , while the obverse has the coat of arms of the Netherlands Antilles. |
||
| The 50 cent coin is diamond shaped. It is the only modern Antillean coin in this form, but an earlier version of the five cent piece was also in this shape. | ||
Banknotes
In 1892, the Curaçaosche Bank introduced notes in denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 2½ guilders. This was the only issue of the cent denominations. Notes for 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 guilders followed in 1900. The 1 and 2½ guilder notes were suspended after 1920 but reintroduced by the government in 1942 as muntbiljet.From 1954, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the reverse of the notes of the Curaçaosche Bank and, from 1955, the muntbiljet (2½ guilders only) was issued in the name of the Nederlandse Antillen. In 1962, the bank's name was changed to the Bank van de Nederlandse Antillen. In 1970, a final issue of muntbiljet was made in denominations of both 1 and 2½ guilders. The 500 guilder note was not issued after 1962.
| The 10 guilder bill is illustrated with a kolibrie Hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings... . Security features include a surface foil tag, an embedded hologram under the hummingbird, and an orange moiré pattern contrasting with the green bill. |
The 25 guilder bill is illustrated with a flamingo. Security features include a surface foil tag, an embedded hologram under the flamingo, and a green moiré pattern contrasting with the pink bill. | The 50 guilder bill has a Rufous-collared sparrow on the face. Security features include a surface foil tag, an embedded hologram under the mus, and a green moiré pattern contrasting with the orange bill. | The 100 guilder bill has a suikerdiefje Bananaquit The Bananaquit is a species of passerine bird of uncertain relation. It is tentatively placed in the tanager family, but classified as incertae sedis by other authorities such as the American Ornithologists' Union. Its classification is debated, and it is often placed in its own family: Coerebidae... on the face. Security features include a surface foil tag, an embedded hologram under the suikerdiefje, and a green moiré pattern contrasting with the brown bill. |
See also
- Economy of the Netherlands AntillesEconomy of the Netherlands AntillesTourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore finance were the mainstays of the Netherlands Antillean economy, which was closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoyed a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region at the time of...
- Central banks and currencies of the CaribbeanCentral banks and currencies of the CaribbeanThis is a list of the central banks and currencies of the Caribbean.There are a number of currencies serving multiple territories; the most widespread are the East Caribbean dollar , the United States dollar and the euro ....