Caribbean guilder facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caribbean guilder
Banknote Coins
ISO 4217 Code	XCG
User(s)	Curaçao Sint Maarten
Pegged with	U.S. dollar = 1.79 XCG
Subunit
1⁄100	cent
cent	c
Plural	guilders
cent	cents
Coins	1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, 1Cg, 5Cg
Banknotes	10Cg, 20Cg, 50Cg, 100Cg, 200Cg
Printer	Crane Currency
Exchange rate Euro: https://caribischegulden.nl/

The Caribbean guilder (code: XCG; abbreviation: Cg) is the official money used in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. These are two special countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One Caribbean guilder is made up of 100 cents.

This new money was first used on March 31, 2025. It took the place of the old Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG). The old guilder stopped being valid money on July 1, 2025, after a short time when both currencies were used together.

Plans for the Caribbean guilder were announced in November 2020. However, its introduction was delayed several times. Creating and printing the new guilder cost about 15 million old Antillean guilders. You could exchange the old money for the new guilder at banks for one year after its launch. After that, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten will exchange it for 29 more years.

What is the Caribbean Guilder?

The Caribbean guilder has a special code, XCG. This code helps identify it around the world. The "X" means it's a currency used by more than one country. Its official short name, or abbreviation, is Cg. This was announced by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

A Look Back: The Guilder's Journey

Why a New Currency?

The old Netherlands Antillean guilder kept being used even after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. However, Curaçao and Sint Maarten needed to agree on a shared currency. There were discussions about a new currency, sometimes called CMg. It was planned to have the same value as the U.S. dollar, just like the old guilder.

The islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba (known as the BES islands) started using the U.S. dollar in 2011. This meant the old Netherlands Antillean guilder would eventually stop circulating there.

The Path to Introduction

In April 2014, Curaçao and Sint Maarten explored the idea of Curaçao having its own central bank. This was part of the discussions about a new shared currency. For a while, introducing the Caribbean guilder was not a top priority.

By 2018, officials in Sint Maarten noted that there were only enough old banknotes for two more years. The islands needed to decide on their money's future. They even thought about using the U.S. dollar or the euro.

In November 2019, Curaçao confirmed the new guilder would arrive in 2021. The Central Bank officially announced it a year later. However, the launch was delayed. It was first expected in 2023 or 2024. Then, in July 2023, the launch was moved to 2025. The Caribbean guilder finally began circulating in March 2025.

Who Manages the Money?

The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) is in charge of the Caribbean guilder. A chairperson, chosen by the prime ministers of both islands, leads the bank. The two islands also appoint six other members to the bank's board. The new currency was fully put into use by August 2025.

Coins and Banknotes: What They Look Like

The Caribbean guilder has both coins and banknotes. The Royal Canadian Mint makes the coins. These include values of 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, 1 guilder, and 5 guilders.

A 20 Caribbean guilder banknote.

The banknotes are printed by Crane Currency. They are made from durable cotton, similar to the old guilder notes. The banknotes come in values of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 guilders. Unlike the old currency, there is no 2.5-guilder coin or 25-guilder banknote. New 20 and 200 guilder banknotes were added. To prevent fake money, the designs were not chosen through a public contest. All coin and banknote designs were shown on August 22, 2024. They feature beautiful marine life.

The Coins of the Caribbean Guilder

The designs for the 1-guilder and 5-guilder coins were approved in February 2024. There are small differences in the designs for Curaçao and Sint Maarten. However, all coins can be used on either island.

The coins feature the Orange blossom and the name of the country on one side. The other side shows the value, shells, pearls, and the year it was made. The 1-guilder and 5-guilder coins also feature King Willem-Alexander and green sea turtles.

The Banknotes of the Caribbean Guilder

All banknote designs were approved in June 2024, and the first notes were printed. The front of each banknote shows different marine animals. The back features famous landmarks from Curaçao and Sint Maarten.