The florin (sign: Afl.; code: AWG) is the currency of Aruba. It is subdivided into 100 cents. The florin was introduced in 1986, replacing the Netherlands Antillean guilder at par. However, the Aruban florin is pegged with 1.79 US$ the commonly used street value is at 1.75 US$.
In 1986, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, 1 and 2½ florin. Later, the 5 florin banknote was replaced by a square coin and the 2½ florin coin was removed from circulation. The 5 florin was later on in 2005 replaced with a round golden coin, because the old squire 5 florin coin was to easy to counterfeit. All coins are struck in nickel-bonded steel with exception of the 5 florin, which is an alloy of copper and other metals. The 50 cent is the only square-shaped coin remaining, also commonly referred to as a "yotin" by the locals.
On the back of each 1, 2½ and 5 florin coins is the profile view of the current head of state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. From 1986 till 2013 is was queen Beatrix and from 2014 onwards it is king Willem-Alexander. Moreover, only these coins have a writting on their edge, 'God Zij Met Ons' meaning 'God Be/Is With Us'.
The Aruban florin coins, from left to right: 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1, 2½ and 5 florin, before 2005.
Current 5 florin coin, its size is slightly smaller that of the 1 florin coin.
The Central Bank of Aruba introduced banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 florin and dated January 1, 1986.[3] In 1990, the bank issued the same denominations in a colorful new family of notes designed by Aruban artist Evelino Fingal. As director of the Archaeological Museum, Fingal found inspiration in old Indian paintings and pot shards. Fingal combined decorative motives found on pre-Columbian pottery with pictures of animals unique to the island. The 500-florin notes were introduced in 1993, with the 5-florin note replaced by a squire coin in 1995.
As of 2003 a new print was started of the then then already existing banknotes of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 florin. These new banknotes were made with new safety features to counter act counterfeiting, but retained their look.[4][5]
^"The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) uses the abbreviation 'AWG' as the currency code for Aruba. However, Aruban law uses the abbreviation 'Afl.' for the Aruban florin." Centrale Bank van Aruba, Glossary
^Linzmayer, Owen (26 April 2011). "Aruba". The Banknote Book (1st ed.). San Francisco. p. 7.
Krause, Chester L., and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.