Suriname History
Discovered by Amerigo Vespucci for Spain in 1499, the Spanish did not stay, being disappointed at finding no gold. It was first settled by the British in 1650. These settlements were invaded by the Dutch, and in 1667, the Netherlands obtained control of Surinam, then Guiana under the Treaty of Breda, in exchange for their North American claims to New Amsterdam, now New York. When Napoleonic France occupied the Netherlands, Suriname was occupied briefly by the British from 1799 to 1816. Suriname gained independence on November 25th 1975. Political instability followed and the military took over the government in 1980, and killed 15 opposition members in 1982. Democracy was restored in 1987, but the army again took control in 1990. Democracy again resurfaced in 1991, and the Dutch government has since assisted Suriname's financial stability.
The original population were the Arawak tribe, partially replaced by the Caribs. Slave labour was imported by the Dutch until 1863, originally from Africa, but later Chinese workers were imported from Indonesia, and Indians until 1916. This has left Suriname with a rich ethnic mixture in its population. The official language remains Dutch, but Tongo, Javanese, and Sranan or Sranang are widely spoken as well as others. Sranan is a mixed language which arose around 1700, and is widely used in everyday situations.

Suriname Coins
Suriname still uses guilders (gulden), inherited from its Dutch history.
Its first gold coin was issued in 1976, a 100 gulden (guilders)
We occasionally have a small selection of Suriname gold coins in stock. We show the specifications here of the most frequently held coins, followed by a list of coins most recently available.

Specifications
Technical specifications of the most frequently encountered Suriname gold coins.

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Alloy	AGW
250 Guilders	22	7.9800	.917	0.2354
100 Guilders	22.5	6.7200	.9000	0.1945

Key
Denomination = Face Value
Diameter = Approximate Diameter in millimetres.
Weight = Weight in grams.
Alloy = Fineness of gold.
AGW = Actual fine gold weight in troy ounces.

Descriptions
The 1991 250 Guilders shown has the almost universal coat of arms of Suriname as on almost all Suriname's coins.
The reverse shows three children watching a guitar playing spider character in its web, with the legend (inscription) in Dutch:-
STICHTING REDT DE KINDEREN
the value 250G, and date 1991.

1976 First Anniversary of Independence
The 1976 issue commemorates the first anniversary of independence.
The obverse bears the Suriname coat of arms, with the inscription
REPUBLIEK SURINAME
1976
100 GULDEN
The reverse shows the flag of Surinam superimposed on a map of Surinam and the rising sun. The legend reads:
EEN JAAR ONAFHANKELIJHEID
1975 - 25 NOVEMBER - 1976

Prices & Availability
The prices quoted in the US $ column may be out of date due to currency fluctuations.

Date	Denomination	Description	Grade	Mintage	Availability	Price £	Price $
1976	100 Guilders	First Anniversary of Independence, Red Gold	About Uncirculated	19,100	Ask	£175	$265
1991	250 Guilders	International Year of the Child	almost FDC	3,000	Ask	£185	$280
1991	250 Guilders	Save the Children Fund	Proof	3,000	Ask	£ See Page	$ See Page

Coins Wanted
We make an active market in almost all world coins, gold or otherwise, including Surinam gold coins. If you have any of these coins to sell, please contact us, or post them to us for appraisal and offer.