The 5 Gulden (ANG) note is part of the “bird series” that was introduced by the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles in 1986. It lived as a banknote for over 10 years until it became replaced by a coin of the same value in 1998. The dimensions of the note are 147 x 66 mm which run consistent with the remaining notes in the series (10, 25, 50, 100 and 250). The bird notes still serve as the official currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (although US dollars are also widely accepted).

The bird series was designed by Oscar Ravelo, a local Curaçao artist who had been commissioned by the bank to work on an earlier series. Interestingly, Ravelo was not a banknote designer but he did produce a beautiful and colorful series that many collectors have developed a fine appreciation for. The 5 Gulden note features a New World Oriole on the obverse and was released as part of only two series (31.3.1986 and 5.1.1994). By the time I made it to the Central Bank of Curaçao & Sint Maarten in 2012, the oriole note was long out of circulation. Luckily many are still available online today (some in UNC condition), from various dealers and collectors. It could make for a beautiful addition to one’s collection.

Some of the security features on this note include the embedded itinerant hairs (or fibers), strewn about the note as well as the “N” and “A” on the obverse and reverse respectively, which superimpose perfectly when the note is held up to the light. Many counterfeiters find it difficult to achieve the same symmetry.

The Netherlands Antilles Gulden or Guilder (NAf), has been pegged to the US Dollar (since 1971), at a rate of 1.79 NAf for $1 US. Looking ahead, 2024 is said to bring about a new currency for the countries of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, that will be known as the Caribbean Guilder. This new currency will replace the Netherlands Antilles Guilder and will bear an exchange rate of 1:1 between the old and new notes.