GUINEA, a gold coin, struck and current in Britain. The value or rate of guineas has varied: it was first struck on the footing of 20 s. by the scarcity of gold was afterwards advanced to 21 s. 6 d. but it is now sunk to 21 s.
The pound weight troy of gold is cut into 44 parts and a half; each part makes a guinea.—This coin took its denomination guinea, because the gold, whereof the first was struck, was brought from that part of Africa called Guinea; for which reason it likewise bore the impression of an elephant.