Page 7 - AHATA

A14 LOCAL
Saturday 19 January 2019

Aruba’s Currency

ORANJESTAD — The florin (sign: Afl.; combined decorative motives
code: AWG) is the currency of Aru- Coins found on pre-Columbian pottery
ba. It is subdivided into 100 cents. In 1986, coins were introduced in with pictures of animals unique to
The florin was introduced in 1986, denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 the island. The 500-florin notes were
replacing the Netherlands Antil- cents, 1 and 2 1⁄2 florin. Later, the 5 introduced in 1993, with the 5-florin
lean guilder. Although the Aruban florin banknote was replaced by a note replaced by a square coin in
florin is pegged to the United States square coin and the 2 1⁄2 florin coin 1995.
dollar at the rate of 1.79 florin per was removed from circulation. The As of 2003 a new print was start-
USD, the commonly used street 5 florin was later in 2005 replaced ed of the then already existing
value is at 1.75 florin per USD. with a round golden coin, because banknotes of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500
the old square 5 florin coin was too florin. These new banknotes were
As part of the Netherlands Antil- easy to counterfeit. All coins are made with new safety features to
les, the Dutch guilder circulated in struck in nickel-bonded steel with counteract counterfeiting, but re-
Aruba during much of the 1700s. It exception of the 5 florin, which is tained their look. The copyright on
was subdivided into 20 stuiver. In an alloy of copper and other met- Aruban banknotes is owned by the
1794 the Curacao reaal was mint- als. The 50 cent is the only square- Centrale Bank van Aruba.
ed for the use across the Nether- shaped coin remaining, also com-
lands Antilles and the guilder was monly referred to as a “yotin” by The tactile mark
officially discontinued in the area the locals.
(but continued in the Netherlands On the back of each 1 and 5 florin
until 2002). coins is the profile view of the cur-
From 1799 to 1828 the Curacao rent head of state of the Kingdom
reaal circulated at an exchange of the Netherlands. From 1986 to
rate of 6 stuiver to 1 reaal and 3 2013 it was queen Beatrix and from
reaal to 1 guilder. After a short hia- 2014 onwards it is king Willem-Alex-
tus the guilder was reintroduced in ander. Moreover, only these coins
1828, however it was now subdi- have a writing on their edge, ‘God
vided into 100 cents rather than 20 Zij Met Ons’ meaning ‘God Be With
stuiver. Us’. The coins are designed by Mr.
When WWII broke out the Nether- Fingal and minted by the “Neder-
lands were quickly overpowered landse Munt N.V.”.
by Nazi Germany and the Cura-
cao guilder’s peg to the Dutch Banknotes
guilder was broken. A new peg, this The Central Bank of Aruba intro-
time to the USD, was introduced duced banknotes in denomina- A raised identification code for the
that same year at a rate of 1 USD = tions of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 flo- visually handicapped is incorporat-
1.88585 guilders. rin and dated January 1, 1986. In ed on the front of each banknote,
In 1952 the Curacao guilder was 1990, the bank issued the same de- bottom left in the white area.
officially renamed the Netherlands nominations in a colorful new fam-
Antillian guilder to better represent ily of notes and designed by Aru- For questions regarding these
the currency’s use across the re- ban artist Evelino Fingal and print- banknotes and coins, you can
gion. In 1971 the Antillian guilders and introduced its own currency: ed at “Joh. Enschedé en Zonen” contact the Cash and Vault De-
peg to the US dollar was adjusted the Aruban florin. It was introduced in the Netherlands. As director of partment at telephone no. (297)
to a rate of 1 USD = 1.79 guilders. at par with the guilder. The guilder the Archaeological Museum, Fin- 525-2141 or (297) 525-2139 or e-
Fifteen years later Aruba separat- remains in use in Curacao and Sint gal found inspiration in old Indian mail: Cash-VaultDept@cbaruba.
ed from the Netherlands Antilles Maarten. paintings and pot shards. Fingal org. q

Experience the Total Lunar

Eclipse right here in Aruba

ORANJESTAD — We are in for a Monday 12:41 AM local time (UTC
treat this weekend! A Total Lunar 04:41) - The Moon reaches a total
Eclipse (Super Blood Wolf Moon) is eclipse, at this point the moon will
happening between the late night be completely red and be well on
hours of Sunday January 20 2019 its way crossing the Earth’s shadow.
and the early hours of Monday Monday 1:12 AM local time (UTC
morning January 21 2019. 05:12) - The eclipse will reach its
maximum, here the moon will be
The eclipse will happen in the fol- closest to the center of Earth’s
lowing stages; shadow.
Sunday 10:36 PM local time (UTC Monday 1:43 AM local time (UTC
02:36) - The Penumbral eclipse 05:43) - The total eclipse comes to
(when the first part of the Earth’s an end.
shadow starts touching the Moon’s Monday 2:50 AM local time (UTC
face) starts. 06:50) - The partial eclipse comes You can enjoy the eclipse any- For more information check out
Sunday 11:33 PM local time (UTC to an end. where on the island so long as you the facebook page of space
03:33) - The partial eclipse begins, Monday 3:48 AM local time (UTC have a clear view of the moon and nature aruba foundation or
at this point the Moon will start turn- 07:48) - The penumbral eclipse that night and the weather is co- also follow this event life on www.
ing red. comes to an end. operating. arubaastroresearch.webs.com. q