Guilder

Dutch gulden
1 Dutch gulden 2001

The guilder (Dutch gulden) is the name of the currency used in the Netherlands from the 15th century until 2002, when it was replaced by the euro. Three versions of the guilder are still in use in Suriname, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, all former or current Dutch dependencies. The Suriname version will in 2004 be replaced by the Suriname dollar.

In the 13th century, coins struck in Florence, Italy - the florenus - were widely accepted throughout Europe, including the Netherlands. Through time, the name and form of the coins became adapted to the region and the name gulden was used, derived from the German Goldene (golden). However the abbreviation for the florenus, fl. or ƒ, remained in use.

Through time, other coins derived from the guilder emerged. Among them was the daalder, one and a half guilder. The name was derived from a large German coin called thaler, shortened from Joachimsthaler, after St Joachimsthal where the silver ore for the coins was mined. The name of the dollar was later derived from the Dutch daalder.

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Guilder is also a fictional nation in The Princess Bride.