New Cg Bank Notes revealed
The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted simultaneous events in Curaçao and Sint Maarten to reveal designs of the new Caribbean banknotes and coins for the first time. The banknotes and coins draws inspiration from the World beneath the Sea where fish swim freely, seeing no borders. This serves as a metaphor for the unity shared between the countries of Curaçao and Sint Maarten within its monetary union. The diversity of unique aquatic life serves as a reminder that, despite our distinct identities, we are connected by collaboration and shared objectives.
The front of the banknotes depicts the vibrant marine life native to Curaçao and Sint Maarten, while the reverse showcases significant historical and cultural landmarks of both countries. Each Caribbean guilder (Cg) banknote has a distinct color. The color of the 10 Cg banknote is predominantly yellow. The main characters on the front of the Cg 10 are the Gray Angelfish and the Queen Conch. The back of the note shows the historic Light House on Klein Curacao. The color of the Cg 20 is predominantly blue. The front shows the Spotted Eagle Ray and the Yellow Cowry, while the back gives a view of the ecologically unique Simpson Bay Lagoon.
The Cg 50 is a predominantly green banknote featuring the Green Sea Turtle and the Favored Tellin shell while on the back the pristine Playa Kenepa Grandi Beach is depicted. The Spotlight Parrot Fish and the Common Music Volute appear on front of the red Cg 100 banknote, while the back shows the remarkable Courthouse of Sint Maarten. The Cg 200 is predominantly purple with the Longsnout Seahorse and the Giant Tun Shell adorning the front and the iconic Queen Emma Bridge on the back.
The Caribbean guilder coins have similar but distinct designs for Curaçao and Sint Maarten. These sets will circulate interchangeably on both islands. The Cg 5 and the Cg 1-guilder coins show the effigy of the King, along with his name ‘Willem-Alexander’ and the words ‘Koning der Nederlanden’ (King of the Netherlands) on the obverse. The reverse of the Sint Maarten Cg 5 and Cg 1-guilder coins show the national coat of arms and Green Sea Turtles while the reverse of the Curacao Cg 5- guilder and the Cg 1-guilder coins show the island of Curacao surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, its waves formed by the words ‘Curacao’. Two Green Sea Turtles complement the design.
The lower denominations, 1ct, 5ct, 10ct, 25ct and 50ct coins show the Orange Blossom on the obverse side. The reverse reads either “Curacao” or “Sint Maarten”. The denomination sits between the Caribbean sky and waves in the middle of a constellation of three groups of 10 pearls representing the date 10-10-10, the date on which both countries became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two Favorite Tellin Shells complete the design and together with the waves and pearls from the link to the underwater world of the banknotes.
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