Daily AncestorGuinea
A guinea was an English gold coin worth 21 shillings, one shilling more than a pound.
The guinea was first proclaimed in 1663 and was named for the gold from the Guinea coast of West Africa from which it was first struck. Its value settled at 21 shillings, and it was no longer coined after the sovereign was introduced in 1817.
In colonial Virginia the guinea was the coin for dealing in pounds, but few guineas actually circulated there; Spanish and French gold coins were more common. The guinea was also used in auctions, where bids were placed in guineas.
As seen in a recordNewspaper notice, 1760s
Two Guineas Reward for the said mare, paid by Robt. Haskins
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Guinea." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/money-measures/guinea. Last checked 2026-10-03.