How should you start collecting Aruba coins? Whether you are building a massive collection of Aruban florin and cent coins or just want an example or two, the best way is to learn what exists and choose the most interesting.
First, a little history of Aruba coins. The Caribbean island nation has been using its own coins since 1986. You may want to get a complete set of coins from that year to honor the birth of a new currency system.
Aruba’s currency is the florin, which is divided into 100 cents. The word “florin” doesn’t have a plural form; it’s 1 florin or 1,000,000 florin. (Note that online sales listings may use “florins” anyway, but as a knowledgeable coin collector you can scoff at them.) The people of Aruba are in fact Dutch citizens, and prior to 1986 used the Netherlands Antilles guilder. Aruba’s place in history and culture is closely related to that of nearby Curaçao. Both are in the Leeward Antilles part of the Lesser Antilles. Buyers of Aruba coins often also collect Curaçao coins.
Browse 190 current Aruba coins for sale offers here
Notable Aruba Coins and Numismatic Features
Several Aruba coins are noteworthy for various reasons. For example there have been several square-shaped coins with rounded corners issued. Put one of these in a coin album alongside regular round coins and see where everyone’s eye instantly goes when they flip to the page!
Aruba coins tend to feature simple, modern designs. Bold, free choices set the coins of Aruba apart from others. You may consider that this reality reflects Aruba’s unique place in the Caribbean in general. Aruba lies south, far down south, all the way next to Venezuela. It features a dry landscape, with more sand and cacti than tropical trees. The starkness and remote self-sufficient pride of Aruba is reflected in its coins.
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Aruba Silver Coins
The silver coins of Aruba are probably the most targeted and collected type. Since announcing the use of its own currency in 1986 the small Caribbean island has issued quite a few silver proofs for collectors and investors. Aruba’s strikingly designed silver coins commemorate a wide range of subjects.
Although Aruba has also made gold coins for collectors, these can be very extremely to find. If you’d like a gold Aruba coin for your own collection, be prepared to wait it out as you keep an eye on online sales listings.
Aruba Cent Coins
If you’d like one Aruba coin of every denomination then you’ll be getting some cent-coins. Several such pieces are noted by collectors for having that distinctive square shape. There are proof versions of many cent coins, and complete sets include every cent coin from a given year.
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Aruba Florin Coins
There are several florin coins available both for general circulation and as special collectors’ issues. Aruba florin coins are available in denominations of 1, 2½, and 5 florin. In addition to these coins used in circulation (and uncirculated proof versions of them, which are available from many recent years), there are special silver and gold coins in denominations of 10, 25, 50 and even 100 florin.
Aruba Coin Sets
Aruba complete coin sets are available to buy from many different years as far back as year one, 1986. A complete set will of course include all coins from a specific year in florin and cents. This is a great way to pick up several Aruban coins at once, quite often for a very reasonable price.
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Aruba Proof Coins
Aruba proof coins for sale include uncirculated proofs of the island’s regular-circulation coins as well as those special silver and gold proofs created especially for collectors and investors. Impressively, Aruba has made an impressive number of proofs for the collectors’ market in a relatively short time.
Aruba Uncirculated Coins
Aruba uncirculated-condition coins are available for many of the years and the denominations that exist since 1986. Uncirculated proofs, including gold and silver items, as well as uncirculated complete Aruba coin sets are frequently seen in the marketplace. As a result, many Aruba coin collectors may be watching online sales listings. Beware of the competition and if you see something you like for a price you agree with, pounce on it.
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How to Collect Aruba Coins
With all the ideas listed above, you can see there are a lot of approaches to collecting Aruba coins. The best part is that, despite years of numismatic orthodoxy, there really is no wrong way. If you know what you like, that’s absolutely good enough!
Whatever your intention for your own Aruba rare coins collection, the hunt for great new coins is fun and shouldn’t be too hard. Lots of sellers offer Aruba coins and the selection rolls over quite a bit. After you’ve decided what the general shape your collection of Aruba coins will be – if any – dive into the current offers online. There’s a whole world of Aruban coins out there!