The Netherlands Antillean guilder (Dutch: gulden) is the currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, which until 2010 formed the Netherlands Antilles along with Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. It is subdivided into 100 cents (Dutch plural form: centen). On January 1st 2011, in the islands of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, the guilder was replaced by the United States dollar. On Curaçao and Sint Maarten, the Netherlands Antillean guilder was proposed to be replaced by a new currency, the Caribbean guilder, but this was stalled indefinitely by negotiations over the establishment of a separate central bank for Curaçao. In November 2020, the Central Bank announced the introduction of the replacement guilder, which was planed to be implemented in the first half of 2021, however implementation was delayed several times.
In Papiamentu, the local language of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, the guilder is called a “florin”.[5] The ISO-4217 code, ANG, is derived from ANtilliaanse Gulden, while the currency symbol, NAFl, is derived from Netherlands Antilles Florin.
ANG Coins
In 1794, silver coins were issued for use in the Dutch West Indies in denominations of 2 stuiver, 1⁄4, 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 produce 1⁄4-guilder coins.
In 1900 and 1901, silver 1⁄10 and 1⁄4-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 2+1⁄2 cent and silver 1 and 2+1⁄2 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 2+1⁄2 guilders—rijksdaalder.
From 1952, the name “Nederlandse Antillen” appeared on the coins. In 1970, nickel replaced silver, although the 2+1⁄2-guilder coin was not reintroduced until 1978. Aluminium 1 and 2+1⁄2 cents were introduced in 1979. In 1989, aluminium 1 and 5 cents, nickel-bonded-steel 10 and 25 cents, and aureate-steel 50 cents, 1 and 2+1⁄2 guilders were introduced. Aureate-steel 5-guilder coins followed in 1998.
ANG Banknotes
In 1892, the Curaçaosche Bank introduced notes in denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 2+1⁄2 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 2+1⁄2 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 (2+1⁄2 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. Starting in 1969, notes dated 28 AUGUSTUS 1967 began to be introduced. The front of these notes all feature the Statuut monument at front left instead of the allegorical seated woman found on the preceding issues, and on the back there is a new coat of arms. In 1970, a final issue of muntbiljet was made in denominations of both 1 and 2+1⁄2 guilders. The 500 guilder note was not issued after 1962. The 5 and the 250 guilder notes were not issued after 1998. The 5 guilder was replaced with a coin.