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LOCAL Monday 5 February 2024

Did you know about...?

The history and meaning of the Aruban florin

local animals. These past Cododo (blue lizard found brown color symbolizes
designs were made by the on the ABC islands), Can- the earth of Aruba. Here
Aruban artist Everino Fingal greu di tera (land crab), we see the Dornasol and
in 1990 up to 2019. Between Willem III Tower, and again the Warawara—both lo-
1990 and 1993, the 5 Flo- the symbols of Cas Floria cal birds, along with the
rin coin was a bill. The Fin- with a piece of mosaic, symbols of Cas Floria with
gal designs also included as well as a beach plant a piece of mosaic, the
a 500-Florin bill, which has called Banana di rif. The Tuna cactus plant, and the
now been discontinued. colors are pink/purple. Caha di orgel (folkloric in-
strument, used for many
In 2019, the Central Bank 100 florin traditional songs).
of Aruba commissioned a This bill is green in color, rep-
new design of the Aruba resenting nature. Here we Extra fact:
Florin bills, this time select- see the Yuwana (Iguana), the word “florin” supposed-
ing artist and former art Aloe, Toteki (lizard), the ly is named after the Italian
teacher, Nigel Matthew, symbols of Cas Floria with city of Florence or it’s a ref-
(Oranjestad)—Aruba To- was reigning queen, it was to present his new design. a piece of mosaic, and a erence to the Italian word
day is proud to officially her profile that was carved Matthew kept the tradition dance group performing “florino”, both explanations
introduce a new seg- on the two coins. of including local animals the Baile di cinta (forkloric related to historical Italian
ment called Did you know and the familiar colors on dance with silk ribbons). currencies.q
about…?, where we dive Outdated Aruban coins the bills. However, he in-
into some (historical) facts and their names cluded additional designs 200 florin Source: Placa, placa, placa
of Aruba, its culture and In the past, Aruban coins that represent the Aruban There is another bill with a by the National Library of
way of living. In this first had distinctive names and culture and link to the In- value of 200 dollars. The Aruba
edition, we look back at also varied in worth. For ex- digenous inhabitants that
the Aruban florin: its history, ample, a 5-cent coin was were the first to set foot on
design and symbolism. once called Dos placa; the island.
10-cent coins were called
In Aruba, we know the 5, debchi; 25-cent coins were Current design and
10, 25 and 50 cent coins, called diez placa and the symbolism
along with the 1 and 5 Flo- 50-cent coin was once 10 florin
rin coin. Aruban Florin bills called Yotin (pronounced: On the 10-florin bill, you
include the 10, 25, 50, 100, jo-teen). We also used a can see a Turtuga blanco
and rarely, the 200 bills. In distinctive coins worth 2 ½ (white turtle). The blue col-
Papiamento we call our cents, called placa too. or symbolizes the blue Ca-
currency Florin, but the However, this last coin is ribbean Sea. You can also
umbrella term for money no longer in use and has see the ruins of the Bushirib-
is placa. Cents are called become a relic of Aruban ana Gold Mill Ruins, a coral
cen (pronounced: seng), money. Back then, the motif, and the symbols of
both in the singular and 5-Florin coin used to also Cas Floria (traditional Aru-
plural form. Most coins are be square, but now it is cir- ban house design) with a
circular and their size de- cular. piece of mosaic.
pend on their worth. How-
ever, the 50 cent coin is Aruban bills: their design 25 florin
easily recognizable by their and symbolism On this orange bill, you can
square shape, as is the 5 The Aruban Florin collection see an Aruban medicinal
Florin coin by their golden contains a variation of col- plant called Shoshoro. The
color. Every coin has the orful bills, displaying incred- birds Trupiaal, Shoco, rock
Aruban emblem carved ibly detailed and beautiful drawings, and the symbols
on it, with the other side designs that tell the story of of Cas Floria with a piece
displaying the worth of the Aruba on a single piece of of mosaic are also depict-
coin. The bigger 1 and 5 flo- paper. ed. There is also a Purun
rin coins, however, contain di ceramica (clay pot), in
the carving of the emblem Prior to 2019, the Aruban reference to the relics left
on one side, while display- Florin bills were relatively behind by our indigenous
ing the side profile of the simpler in design com- ancestors.
Dutch king, Willem-Alexan- pared to now, but still in-
der, on the other side. When cluded beautiful designs 50 florin
his mother, Princess Beatrix, and colors, often depicting On this bill, we see the