Netherlands Antillean Guilder Currency Guide

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Farmhouse by the Pond in De Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
Credit: pexels.com, Farmhouse by the Pond in De Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

The Netherlands Antillean Guilder was the official currency of the Netherlands Antilles from 1944 to 2010. It was pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate.

You can still exchange your Netherlands Antillean Guilders for US dollars or other currencies, although it's becoming increasingly rare. The exchange rate is no longer fixed, so it's subject to market fluctuations.

The Netherlands Antillean Guilder was subdivided into 100 cents, just like the US dollar.

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What Is the Netherlands Guilder?

The Netherlands Antilles guilder, or ANG, is the national currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. It's a significant part of their identity, even though the Netherlands Antilles itself dissolved in 2010.

The ANG is still widely used on these islands, and it's interesting to note that the official exchange rate is 1.79 Netherlands Antilles guilders to the U.S. dollar.

Curaçao and Sint Maarten are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which means they have a certain level of independence, but still maintain strong ties with the Netherlands.

Detailed close-up of Indian Rupee banknotes with iconic Gandhi portrait, emphasizing economy and currency themes.
Credit: pexels.com, Detailed close-up of Indian Rupee banknotes with iconic Gandhi portrait, emphasizing economy and currency themes.

The ANG has been considered for replacement with a new currency, the Caribbean guilder (CMg), but nothing has been officially decided yet.

Here are some key facts about the Netherlands Antilles guilder:

  • The Netherlands Antilles guilder (ANG) is the national currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
  • Curaçao and Sint Maarten are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • The Netherlands Antilles guilder (ANG) is still widely used on the islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

History of the Netherlands Antillean Guilder

The Netherlands Antillean guilder has a rich history that spans centuries. It was first introduced in the 18th century as the Dutch guilder, which circulated in the Netherlands Antilles. The guilder was subdivided into 20 stuiver.

In 1799, the reaal was introduced, with 1 reaal equal to 6 stuiver or 3+1⁄3 reaal equal to 1 guilder. This system was in place until 1828, when the Dutch guilder was reintroduced, subdivided into 100 cents. The reaal was replaced by the Dutch guilder, which became the official currency.

The Netherlands Antillean guilder was pegged to the US dollar in 1940, with a rate of 1.88585 guilders to 1 dollar. This rate was adjusted to 1.79 guilders to 1 dollar in 1971. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and introduced its own currency, the Aruban florin, which replaced the guilder at par.

For another approach, see: Banknotes of the Dutch Guilder

Credit: youtube.com, The Antillean Florin (Guilder) history

The Netherlands Antillean guilder continued to be used in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, which remained part of the Netherlands Antilles until its dissolution in 2010. Today, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Here's a brief timeline of the Netherlands Antillean guilder:

  • 18th century: Dutch guilder introduced in the Netherlands Antilles
  • 1799: Reaal introduced, with 1 reaal equal to 6 stuiver
  • 1828: Dutch guilder reintroduced, subdivided into 100 cents
  • 1940: Netherlands Antillean guilder pegged to US dollar at 1.88585 guilders to 1 dollar
  • 1971: Peg adjusted to 1.79 guilders to 1 dollar
  • 1986: Aruba introduces its own currency, the Aruban florin
  • 2010: Netherlands Antilles dissolved, Curaçao and Sint Maarten become autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Currency Overview

The Netherlands Antillean Guilder is the official currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. It's issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

The currency symbol for the Netherlands Antillean Guilder is ƒ or Fl. This symbol is used in many commercial transactions and financial dealings.

The Netherlands Antillean Guilder is considered a high-value currency, playing an important role in pricing and payments on the international market. It's also used as a reserve currency.

Initially, the Netherlands Antillean Guilder was issued and managed by the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles until 2010. After its dissolution, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten took over its responsibilities.

Denominations

Credit: youtube.com, Netherlands Antillean guilder

The Netherlands Antillean guilder had a wide range of denominations over the years. Notes were printed in denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 2½ guilders, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 guilders.

A 1 gulden banknote from 1918 is a great example of the 1 guilder denomination. The 1 and 2½ guilder notes were removed from circulation after 1920 but were reintroduced in 1942 as muntbiljet.

Coins were also minted in various denominations, including ¼ and ⁄10 guilder, 1 and 2½ guilder, 1 and 2½ cent, and 5 cent coins. The 1 and 2½ guilder coins were minted in silver in 1944.

For another approach, see: Costa Rican Colon Denominations

Banknotes

The denominations of the Antillean guilder are quite fascinating. The first notes were introduced in 1892 by the Curaçaosche Bank in denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 2½ guilders.

The Curaçaosche Bank issued notes in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 guilders in 1900. The 1 and 2½ guilder notes were suspended after 1920, but reintroduced by the government in 1942 as muntbiljet.

For more insights, see: 25 Krooni

Waterfront Houses by the Canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Credit: pexels.com, Waterfront Houses by the Canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the reverse of the notes of the Curaçaosche Bank from 1954, and the muntbiljet (2½ guilders only) was issued in the name of the Nederlandse Antillen from 1955.

Here are the denominations of the Antillean guilder notes, along with their corresponding illustrations and security features:

The 500 guilder note was not issued after 1962, and the 5 and 250 guilder notes were not issued after 1998.

Coins

The Netherlands Antilles had a rich history of coin production, with the first coins minted in 1900 and 1901 in denominations of ¼ and ½ guilder, respectively.

These early coins circulated alongside Dutch coins within the colony, and were later joined by coins minted by the United States during Germany's occupation of the Netherlands.

The US-minted coins, produced from 1941 to 1944, carried "D" and "P" mint marks and featured a small palm tree on most of them.

Close-Up Photo of Gold Coins
Credit: pexels.com, Close-Up Photo of Gold Coins

In 1952, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" made its debut on the Netherlands Antillean 1 cent and 1 gulden coins, marking a significant change in the country's coinage.

New coins were introduced in the 1950s, including ½ and ¼ guilder coins in 1954, 2½ cents in 1956, and 5 cents in 1957.

The Netherlands Antilles replaced the ½ and ¼ guilder coins with 10 and 25 cent coins in 1970, and introduced a 5 guilder coin in 1998.

Commemorative coins with denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, and 300 gulden have been issued over the years, and special-edition coins featuring the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba were introduced in 2011.

Related reading: South German Gulden

Etymology and Naming

The Netherlands Antillean guilder has a rich history, and its name is a reflection of its past. The local language of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, Papiamentu, calls the guilder a "florin".

In Papiamentu, the guilder is commonly referred to as a "florin", a name that's still widely used today. The ISO 4217 code, ANG, is derived from the Dutch name for the currency, ANtilleaanse Gulden.

The currency symbol, NAƒ, is also derived from the name of the currency in Dutch, Netherlands Antilles Florin. This symbol is used to represent the guilder in financial transactions.

Intriguing read: Dutch Guilder Currency

Etymology

Netherlands Soccer Fans
Credit: pexels.com, Netherlands Soccer Fans

The name "guilder" has a rich history, and in some languages, it's referred to by a different name. In Papiamentu, the local language of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, the guilder is commonly referred to as a "florin".

Interestingly, the ISO 4217 code for the currency is ANG, which is derived from ANtilleaanse Gulden, the name of the currency in Dutch. The currency symbol, NAƒ, is also derived from this name.

Naming

The naming of a currency can be fascinating, and the Antillean guilder is no exception. In Papiamentu, the local language of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, the guilder is called a "florin".

The currency's ISO 4217 code, ANG, has a interesting story behind it. The first two letters, AN, are the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code assigned to the Netherlands Antilles, while the third letter, G, comes from Gulden.

Here's a breakdown of the currency's name in different languages:

  • Papiamentu: florin
  • ISO 4217 code: ANG (where AN comes from the Netherlands Antilles and G comes from Gulden)
  • Abbreviation: NAFl (derived from Netherlands Antilles Florin)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries use Netherlands Antillean guilder?

The Netherlands Antillean guilder is currently used in Curacao and Sint Maarten. The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten manages its issuance and circulation.

What is Antillean Guilder?

The Antillean Guilder is the official currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, used in the Caribbean island countries. It's also known as the Netherlands Antilles Guilder (ANG) and is abbreviated as NAƒ.

How much is dutch antilles in USD?

As of 23/12/2024, 1 Neth Antilles Guilder (ANG) is equivalent to approximately 0.557 US Dollars (USD). Check the latest exchange rates and conversion tools for the most up-to-date information.

Is Netherlands Antilles in the EU?

No, the Netherlands Antilles were not part of the European Union. They were listed as overseas countries and territories (OCTs) instead.

What would a guilder be worth today?

As of December 25, 2024, 1 guilder is equivalent to approximately 0.47 USD. Check for the latest conversion rate to see the current value of your guilder.

Lee Kuhn

Senior Copy Editor

Lee Kuhn has spent over two decades refining his craft as a copy editor, honing a keen eye for detail and a passion for precise language. His expertise extends to a variety of fields, with a particular focus on the intricate world of Finnish banking. Lee's rigorous approach to editing ensures that every piece he touches is not only free of errors but also clear and compelling.

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