# guinea

> coin of approximately one quarter ounce of gold that was minted in Great Britain between 1663 and 1814

**Wikidata**: [Q918094](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q918094)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_(coin))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/guinea-q918094

## Summary
The guinea was a British gold coin worth approximately one quarter ounce of gold, minted between 1663 and 1814. It served as a medium of exchange in the British Empire and was succeeded by other currency units. The guinea was also the name of a region in West Africa, which shares the same name but is unrelated to the coin.

## Key Facts
- A gold coin minted in Great Britain between 1663 and 1814
- Valued at approximately one quarter ounce of gold
- Served as a generally accepted medium of exchange for goods or services
- Preceded by the "Unite" coin and succeeded by other currency units
- Minted in the United Kingdom
- Also refers to the Guinea region in West Africa, which is distinct from the coin
- The Guinean franc is the current currency of Guinea, the country that includes the Guinea region
- The Saint Paul River flows through Guinea and Liberia
- Samori Ture, an African warlord and religious leader, was a citizen of Guinea

## FAQs
**What was the guinea?**
The guinea was a British gold coin worth approximately one quarter ounce of gold, minted between 1663 and 1814. It was used as a medium of exchange in the British Empire.

**Where was the guinea minted?**
The guinea was minted in Great Britain, specifically in the United Kingdom.

**What is the guinea region in West Africa?**
The Guinea region in West Africa is a distinct entity from the guinea coin. It is part of several countries, including Guinea, Liberia, and others.

**Who was Samori Ture, and how is he related to the guinea?**
Samori Ture was an African warlord and religious leader who founded the Wassoulou Empire. He was born in 1830 and was a citizen of Guinea, which is the country that includes the Guinea region.

**What currency replaced the guinea?**
The guinea was succeeded by other currency units, but the exact replacement is not specified in the source material.

## Why It Matters
The guinea played a significant role as a medium of exchange in the British Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its minting and use reflect the economic and political power of Great Britain at the time. The coin's value and weight were standardized, making it a reliable form of currency. Additionally, the name "guinea" is shared with the Guinea region in West Africa, highlighting the historical and cultural connections between the coin and the region. The guinea's legacy continues to be studied in the context of British colonial history and the development of global currency systems.

## Notable For
- Being one of the first standardized gold coins in British history
- Serving as a key medium of exchange in the British Empire
- Having a distinct name that also refers to a region in West Africa
- Being succeeded by other currency units, marking a shift in economic systems
- Being associated with the Saint Paul River, which flows through the Guinea region

## Body
### History
The guinea was a gold coin minted in Great Britain between 1663 and 1814. It was valued at approximately one quarter ounce of gold and served as a generally accepted medium of exchange for goods or services. The guinea was preceded by the "Unite" coin and succeeded by other currency units. Its minting and use reflect the economic and political power of the British Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries.

### Geographic and Cultural Connections
The name "guinea" is also associated with the Guinea region in West Africa. This region is part of several countries, including Guinea, Liberia, and others. The Guinean franc is the current currency of Guinea, the country that includes the Guinea region. The Saint Paul River flows through Guinea and Liberia, further connecting the coin to the region.

### Notable Figures
Samori Ture, an African warlord and religious leader, was born in 1830 and was a citizen of Guinea. He founded the Wassoulou Empire, which had significant historical and cultural impact in the region. Ture's citizenship in Guinea highlights the historical connections between the coin and the region.

### Economic Significance
The guinea's value and weight were standardized, making it a reliable form of currency. Its use as a medium of exchange in the British Empire reflects the economic and political power of the time. The guinea's legacy continues to be studied in the context of British colonial history and the development of global currency systems.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BabelNet
3. FactGrid
4. GF WordNet