NETHERLANDS ANTILLEAN GULDEN

The 'gulden' is the currency of the Netherlands Antilles. In English it is also called the "guilder." It is subdivided into 100 ''cent'' (plural form also ''centen'').

Contents

History

Coins

Banknotes

See also

References

External links

History

In the 18th century, the Dutch gulden 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 gulden was subdivided into 20 ''stuiver''.
Between 1799 and 1828, the ''reaal'' circulated on the islands, with 1 reaal = 6 stuiver or 3⅓ reaal = 1 gulden. The Dutch gulden was reintroduced in 1828, now subdivided into 100 cent. 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 gulden = 1 dollar established. The peg was adjusted to 1.79 gulden = 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 gulden 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 gulden. After the reintroduction of the Dutch gulden in 1828, some 1 gulden coins were cut into quarters and stamped with a "C" in 1838 to produced ¼ gulden coins.
In 1900 and 1901, silver and ¼ gulden coins were introduced which circulated alongside Dutch coins. Following the separation of the Netherlands Antillean currency from the Dutch, bronze 1 cent were introduced in 1942, followed by cupro-nickel 5 cent in 1943. Bronze 2½ cent and silver 1 and 2½ gulden were introduced in 1944.
From 1952, the name "Nederlandse Antillen" appeared on the coins. In 1970, nickel replaced silver, although the 2½ gulden was not reintroduced until 1978. Aluminium 1 and 2½ cent were introduced in 1979. In 1989, aluminium 5 cent, nickel-bonded-steel 10, 25 and 50 cent, and aureate-steel 1 and 2½ gulden were introduced. Aureate-steel 5 gulden followed in 1998.

Banknotes

In 1892, the ''Curaçaosche Bank'' introduced notes in denominations of 25 and 50 centen, 1 and 2½ gulden. This was the only issue of the centen denominations. Notes for 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 gulden followed in 1900. The 1 and 2½ gulden 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 gulden only) were 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 gulden. The 500 gulden note was not issued after 1962.

See also

★ Economy of the Netherlands Antilles

★ Central banks and currencies of the Caribbean

References

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External links