Why are Aruba 1990 banknotes so expensive?

Besides they are beautiful and have nice art, what is the real reason behind high prices of these UNC banknotes? I mean there are banknotes from places like Fiji, Vanuatu and some other remote places that are relatively cheap. Is it low number of printed banknotes or something else?

Usually it has to do with the number printed and whether people saved them in an uncirculated state. I find the 100 Florin note to be rather plain, and it probably didn't have much appeal to tourists who might have wanted to keep a high grade one as a souvenir. This is my VF one:

Looks beautiful. I am yet to hold one in my hands. Almost like Picasso's miniature 

Here you are referring to a series that was issued some 30 years ago. Aruba have a rather small population (just over 100,000+). This is just a supply and demand issue.

Have a look at the below note

I bought this in 2001 for about US$50. See if you can find one at a reasonable price? This note is in UNC condition. If only I knew, I would have bought few more then.

Just my opinion.

Normally, I would back the “supply & demand” argument but I suspect another culprit: social media & Reddit in particular. For me its like watching a slow-motion replay of the “Gamestop” stunning stock spike & crash debacle.  

Only about 5 years ago* I saw UNC bricks (1000) of these 100 Trillion notes from Zimbabwe sell for pennies a piece.  Later, I saw them going for a couple dollars each (if you bought lots of 10 or more). Next thing I know a collector posts on CCF that his 100 Trillion note could sell for $75 (or something like that).  Banknote world used to sell them for about $30 (after they stopped selling the bricks & bundles).  There's several thousand gems out there but nobody will part with one for nothing less than a small fortune.  I've seen posts featuring the note on Reddit & a 100 replies about it being the coolest note ("Want one") etc.  I know I would rather put my $75 to $100 on the highest grade 10 /- from Rhodesia (which would be tough to source) but that's me.  I remember once counting over 100 listed Rock notes on eBay (mostly gems) with crazy BIN prices.

I then saw a similar post on Reddit over the 25,000 Gulden about 3 years ago. I remember the person who posted his/her note claimed it was going for about 2-3X the price (stating it was $300 but you could find them for about $100). Once again, there were about 60 (or more) replies about what a “stunning” note this was.  Now that 20 year old highest denomination is selling for much more.  This Gulden is no longer in issue so this would be a far better bet than the Zimbabwe hyperinflation note but again you're buying during a heated up trend (thanks to armchair collectors who rarely collect anything but what they see on Reddit). These are the same folks who buy Zero Euros, specimens, fantasy notes or RCM coins at the post office. 

(*It may have been more than 5 years ago- not sure but not that long ago!)

As for the note from Aruba, I would say it is fairly priced since it hasn't gone through the hype cycle that the 2 examples I just described has. Like Falkland, Fiji or Isle of Mann (& many islands), there is very limited quantity so they're tough to get. 

I totally agree with serial_number_8. 

These hyperinflation notes from Zimbabwe are just a trap. If another hyperinflation cycle occurs these will crash in value again. That is why i bought a stack of Venezuelan Bolivars for dirt cheap. Less risk and potentially good long term. As well I am staying away from all this queen Elizabeth hype train because no one will care after a year or two. 

Back to topic. I mean new basic 5 Fiji dollar banknote is like 5 to 6 euro worth banknote. But 30 euros for basic 5 florin is so damn expensive. For 30 euros i could buy some star US dollar notes and hold them for like 30 years and get double or triple back. But they dont have appeal as these Florin notes :-). 

The Zimbabwe notes are a difference catalogue to many of the current notes available in the market. This is how I see it.

Those Zimbabwe 2008 100 trillion notes issued back in 2008/2009 notes, were almost worthless the moment it was released. And because of that, many dealers in the west can get them by the bundles at a very cheap price, and on sold them for a profit. Slowly, the popularity for owning a trillion dollars note getting momentum, and everyone talks about getting one, and as such, prices went up. Then few years ago, it was reported that counterfeiting notes were reported for the 100 trillion note and suddenly, that made the genuine ones even more expensive. The question to my argument is the holding cost. If you (dealer) have bought them next to nothing, and now collectors are willing to pay $100 each or more, most likely you will not let it go cheap, after all the holding cost is almost minimum to them. I managed to get a full set from P65 ($1) to P91 (100 trillion) for US$37 in early 2010. The seller even provided me with the replacement prefix for the 100 trillion note too. I later went on and bought the 4 sets of 4 notes (10 to 100 trillion) for us$5 per set. Again, I was provided with few replacement prefixes, and with one radar note too.

The other note that came to mind with low holding cost was the China $10 Olympics 2008 notes. Many people in China got the notes, especially for those mum and dad non collectors, but would not let it go for just a $100? The holding cost is only 10 yuan, which is less that US$2. If that was me, I would do the same too. I remembered when it was first released, it was selling for $99 on eBay, and many were sold, before the price just skyrocketed few days later. I waited for a while and later I found a local dealer here selling it for just over $200 in March 2011, and I went and bought one.

The Suriname guilden note is again a difference story. I remembered talking to someone in the country back in 2000, trying to get one (and the 10000 guilden too), but was unsuccessful. To the local, this is a high value note and it was a lot of money in that country then. The collector wanted me to pay first and at that time, I had trust issues and would not want to risk it. I have a collector friend managed to get these two high value notes but at a very expensive price. High value notes are always a difference story as the holding cost is high and re selling them may take some time. Not many collectors would go for high value notes either, just like those 500 euro. I only have one 500 euro (2002 T prefix Ireland) in my collection. and one is more than enough, after all, the note is not doing anything but just sitting in the album. 

This is just my 2 cents!

ahkai

The Zimbabwe notes are a difference catalogue to many of the current notes available in the market. This is how I see it.

 

Those Zimbabwe 2008 100 trillion notes issued back in 2008/2009 notes, were almost worthless the moment it was released. And because of that, many dealers in the west can get them by the bundles at a very cheap price, and on sold them for a profit. Slowly, the popularity for owning a trillion dollars note getting momentum, and everyone talks about getting one, and as such, prices went up. Then few years ago, it was reported that counterfeiting notes were reported for the 100 trillion note and suddenly, that made the genuine ones even more expensive. The question to my argument is the holding cost. If you (dealer) have bought them next to nothing, and now collectors are willing to pay $100 each or more, most likely you will not let it go cheap, after all the holding cost is almost minimum to them. I managed to get a full set from P65 ($1) to P91 (100 trillion) for US$37 in early 2010. The seller even provided me with the replacement prefix for the 100 trillion note too. I later went on and bought the 4 sets of 4 notes (10 to 100 trillion) for us$5 per set. Again, I was provided with few replacement prefixes, and with one radar note too.

 

The other note that came to mind with low holding cost was the China $10 Olympics 2008 notes. Many people in China got the notes, especially for those mum and dad non collectors, but would not let it go for just a $100? The holding cost is only 10 yuan, which is less that US$2. If that was me, I would do the same too. I remembered when it was first released, it was selling for $99 on eBay, and many were sold, before the price just skyrocketed few days later. I waited for a while and later I found a local dealer here selling it for just over $200 in March 2011, and I went and bought one.

 

The Suriname guilden note is again a difference story. I remembered talking to someone in the country back in 2000, trying to get one (and the 10000 guilden too), but was unsuccessful. To the local, this is a high value note and it was a lot of money in that country then. The collector wanted me to pay first and at that time, I had trust issues and would not want to risk it. I have a collector friend managed to get these two high value notes but at a very expensive price. High value notes are always a difference story as the holding cost is high and re selling them may take some time. Not many collectors would go for high value notes either, just like those 500 euro. I only have one 500 euro (2002 T prefix Ireland) in my collection. and one is more than enough, after all, the note is not doing anything but just sitting in the album. 

 

This is just my 2 cents!

Nice story and I understand. I do believe after reading replies that Florin notes are after all a good buy. And speaking of highest denomination notes in certain countries, usually these are go-to-purchases because of low print numbers and removal from circulation relatively quickly, either due to collectors, or local banks withdrawing them. When i collect sets of banknotes, usually these highest denominations tear a hole in my pocket :-). 

Just saw these Suriname banknotes, they are also beautiful, but darn exspensive. I like these animal motiffs a lot and i guess Dutch people who make them have a good taste for art

Just saw these Suriname banknotes, they are also beautiful, but darn exspensive. I like these animal motiffs a lot and i guess Dutch people who make them have a good taste for art

was there an image intended?

Serial_Number_8

Only about 5 years ago* I saw UNC bricks (1000) of these 100 Trillion notes from Zimbabwe sell for pennies a piece.  Later, I saw them going for a couple dollars each (if you bought lots of 10 or more). Next thing I know a collector posts on CCF that his 100 Trillion note could sell for $75 (or something like that).  Banknote world used to sell them for about $30 (after they stopped selling the bricks & bundles).  There's several thousand gems out there but nobody will part with one for nothing less than a small fortune.  I've seen posts featuring the note on Reddit & a 100 replies about it being the coolest note ("Want one") etc.  I know I would rather put my $75 to $100 on the highest grade 10 /- from Rhodesia (which would be tough to source) but that's me.  I remember once counting over 100 listed Rock notes on eBay (mostly gems) with crazy BIN prices.

 

(*It may have been more than 5 years ago- not sure but not that long ago!)

This reminds me when I was in London buying a few banknotes not to long ago and I was talking to the dealer about Mexico inflation notes and off course it went to the 100 Trillion Dollar note which these days sells for around £150-£200 now but he told me about 10-12 years ago he could get half pallets bundles of them for the same price and singles cost between 50p and £2 depending on condition.

There was even an article published by the Guardian in 2016 predicting the price jump which at that time the notes were selling for around £40 each.