Aruba KM#58 5 Florin 2014-2024 UNC—NEW KING of Netherlands—Dutch Caribbean
Aruba KM#58 5 Florin 2014-2024 UNC—NEW KING of Netherlands—Dutch Caribbean
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The Aruba 5 Florin is the highest denomination in the Aruban circulation series — and the only one struck in aluminium bronze, giving it a warm gold color that immediately sets it apart from the nickel-silver lower denominations. Issued from 2014 through 2024 under King Willem-Alexander, it features a uniquely engineered edge: reeded with a smooth center channel containing the inscription GOD ZIJ MET ONS. Year and mint mark are random; only three mint master marks were used across its run.
Obverse
- Colors: warm gold (aluminium bronze); matte field with raised devices
- Design: Coat of Arms of Aruba with state name ARUBA, face value 5 FLORIN, year, and mint marks
Reverse
- Colors: warm gold; detailed portrait with fine engraving
- Portrait: Bust of King Willem-Alexander facing right
- Legend: WILLEM - ALEXANDER / KONING DER NEDERLANDEN (King of the Netherlands)
Other Characteristics
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Varieties: you may receive any variety:
- 2014–2015 — Sailboat (Maarten Theodoor Brouwer, Mint Master)
- 2015–2016 — Sailboat with star (Kees Bruinsma, Acting Mint Master)
- 2022–2024 — Bird (Bert van Ravenswaaij, Mint Master)
- Catalog numbers: KM# 58; Schön# 53; Numista N#67080
- Composition: Aluminium bronze
- Weight: 8.4 g
- Diameter: 23.45 mm
- Thickness: 2.70 mm
- Shape: Round
- Edge: Reeded with smooth center channel containing inscription — GOD ZIJ MET ONS (God be with us)
- Orientation: Coin alignment (↑↓)
- Issuing entity: Centrale Bank van Aruba
- Mint: Royal Dutch Mint (Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt), Utrecht, Netherlands
- Privy mark: Utrecht mint mark (caduceus/staff) present on all issues
- Currency: Aruban florin (1986–date)
- Official language(s): Papiamento, Dutch
Gold in the Caribbean: The Aluminium Bronze Difference
Every other Aruban circulation coin is struck in nickel plated steel — bright silver in color. The 5 Florin breaks that pattern entirely. Its aluminium bronze composition gives it a distinctly warm, gold-toned appearance that makes it instantly recognizable in any collection or change tray. Aluminium bronze is a durable, corrosion-resistant alloy used for high-denomination coins worldwide — the same material family used for the British £1 coin (pre-2017) and many Euro coins. On a tropical island where salt air and humidity are constants, it was a practical as well as aesthetic choice.
The Edge: Engineering Meets Tradition
The 5 Florin's edge is the most technically sophisticated in the Aruban series: reeded (milled grooves running around the circumference) with a smooth center channel cut into the reeding, within which the inscription GOD ZIJ MET ONS is struck. This combination — reeding plus inscription — makes the coin distinguishable by touch from every other denomination in the series, including the 1 and 2½ Florin which have plain inscribed edges. It is a small engineering detail that rewards close examination.
The King on the Coin
Willem-Alexander (1967–date) became King of the Netherlands on 30 April 2013, when his mother Queen Beatrix abdicated after 33 years on the throne. He is the first Dutch king in 123 years — the Netherlands had been ruled by queens since 1890. His portrait appears on the 1, 2½, and 5 Florin — the three highest denominations of the Aruban florin series, all introduced together in 2014.
Three Mint Marks, One Gap
The 5 Florin was struck from 2014 through 2024, but not every year — and notably, it carries no Bridge mark (Stephan Satijn, 2017–2021), suggesting production was paused or skipped entirely during those years. The three marks that do appear are the sailboat of Maarten Theodoor Brouwer (2014–2015), the sailboat with star of acting mint master Kees Bruinsma (2015–2016), and the bird of Bert van Ravenswaaij (2022–2024). The gap makes the Bridge-era years a numismatic absence worth noting.
About Aruba
- Origin of name: Disputed — possibly from the Arawak words ora ubao ("well-situated") or oruba ("accompanied by wind"); the Spanish also used isla de oro (island of gold), though no significant gold was found
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Capital: Oranjestad — pop. ~35,000 (2023)
- Origin of name: Dutch for "Orange City," named after the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family
- Population: ~107,000 (UN 2023) — roughly the size of Peoria, Illinois
- Area: 180 km² (69 mi²) — roughly the size of Washington, D.C.
- GDP per capita (PPP): ~$37,000 (IMF est.) — one of the highest in the Caribbean
- Main exports: Tourism services (~90% of GDP); refined petroleum products (historically); aloe vera
- Borders: None — island nation; nearest neighbors are Venezuela (~29 km south) and Curaçao (~68 km east)
- Official/spoken languages: Papiamento (native creole, primary spoken language); Dutch (official, government and education); English and Spanish widely spoken
- Ethnicities: Mixed Aruban (predominantly Arawak, African, and European descent, ~75%); Dutch and other European (~15%); Latin American (~10%)
- Memberships: Kingdom of the Netherlands (constituent country, 1986–date); CARICOM (observer); ACS (associate member)
- Sovereignty: Status Aparte within the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1 January 1986; not independent — Dutch citizens, Dutch passport, Dutch monarch as head of state
Own this coin and hold the gold-toned crown of the Aruban florin series — the largest denomination, the only bronze alloy, and the most engineered edge in the set. The year and mint mark you receive are a surprise; the quality is not.
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Who is World Money Store?
World Money Store is me, Βrian Grοss, the sole proprietor of this small business, based in Washington D.C. I've spend half my adult life in The Netherlands and Mexico and have an addiction to travel, history and languages (Spanish, Dutch Russian and a few others); Arabic my current challenge. My personal instagram is @df2dc.
I've been on ebay for 22 years, and I am also on Whatnot. I put together the website myself, and do all the purchasing.
I travel around the world to personally select a range of banknotes that I KNOW match the interests of my customers, and by traveling to the right places, I get them at the best prices, too.
I have three main groups of customers:
1. the ones who love diverse colorful and affordable notes from around the world
2. those who love to own pieces of the propaganda of communist dictatorships (Cuba, North Korea) and "bad guys" like the Ayatollah, Saddam, Gadaffi. Iran (Shah, Ayatollah), Syria (Assad, current).
3. those who seek Venezuelan and Iranian currency. We sell banknotes for collecting purposes only (our intention).
I happen to have a lot of depth and breadth in Mexico and Brazil, in addition to Cuba and Iran.
I don't focus on anything from the U.S. and Canada, items from before World War II, "lucky" serial numbers, or PMG-graded items.
Buy with Confidence
- You will receive (a) banknote(s) similar to the one in the picture, in the condition mentioned in the listing title such as UNC, VF, etc. See below for definitions.
- Serial numbers will vary
- Authenticity: All banknotes are guaranteed genuine currency, sourced from reliable suppliers and verified by our team. Exception: some souvenir and gold foil notes that are clearly marked as souvenir, fantasy, gold foil, etc.
- Return the banknote within 14 days of receipt for your money back if not satisfied.
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Banknote Condition Guide (UNC, XF, VF, F etc.)
- UNC (Uncirculated): No folds/creases; full crispness/sheen. May have "half moon" at edge of security thread.
- AU (About Uncirculated): Nearly perfect, with a single light fold or handling mark that doesn't break the paper. Crisp and colorful.
- XF a.k.a. EF (Extremely Fine): Crisp, firm, bright; a few light folds or one firm crease.
- VF Plus: Minor folds/stains; white areas are bright, still not quite Extra Fine.
- VF (Very Fine): Several folds; paper firmer than average; corners lightly worn.
- VF Minus: VF but may show foxing (yellow/brown patches), thinner paper, more folds/wrinkles/small tears (1-3 mm), otherwise intact.
- F (Fine): Well-used, many folds or creases; paper is soft; some soiling and/or pen marks.
- VG (Very Good) / Limp/worn/faded with heavy creasing/edge wear/tears.