# third gourde (1872–date)

> Haitian currency

**Wikidata**: [Q111583773](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111583773)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/third-gourde-1872date

## Summary
The third gourde (1872–date) is the official currency of Haiti, introduced in 1872 and still in active circulation. It functions as a medium of exchange for goods and services within the Haitian economy and is classified as a specific iteration (the third) of the gourde monetary system.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: Haitian currency (per Wikidata description)
- **Instance of**: Currency (a generally accepted medium of exchange for goods or services)
- **Subclass of**: Gourde
- **Time Period**: 1872 to present (date)
- **Core Functions**: Medium of exchange, unit of account, store of value, and means of payment within Haiti's economy
- **Parent Classification Hierarchy**: Belongs to the broader currency class, which is itself a subclass of `medium of exchange`, `unit of measurement`, `money`, and `means of payment`
- **Global Context**: Exists alongside other model currency examples such as the United States dollar, euro, Indian rupee, and Icelandic króna

## FAQs
**What distinguishes the third gourde from other currencies?**
The third gourde is specifically Haiti's national currency and represents the third iteration of the gourde monetary system, introduced in 1872. It is uniquely positioned as both an instance of the general "currency" class and a subclass of "gourde."

**How does the third gourde fit into global currency systems?**
As a recognized national currency, the third gourde operates within the same conceptual framework as all world currencies—functioning as a medium of exchange, unit of account, store of value, and means of payment. The broader currency concept is documented across 166 language editions on Wikipedia and is classified under systems like Dewey Decimal Classification 332.4 (Finance).

**What is the relationship between the third gourde and the concept of money?**
The third gourde is classified as "currency," which is distinct from but related to "money." While money is a broader category encompassing various financial assets used for transactions, currency specifically refers to the system of money in circulation within a particular country—in this case, Haiti.

## Why It Matters
The third gourde serves as the foundational economic instrument for Haiti, enabling trade, commerce, and financial stability within the nation. As the official medium of exchange, it facilitates everyday transactions, allows for price comparison through its function as a unit of account, and provides citizens with a store of value for savings and investment. Its uninterrupted circulation since 1872 represents over 150 years of continuous monetary sovereignty, making it a significant element of Haitian national identity and economic independence. The currency's existence as a subclass of "gourde" also connects it to Haiti's broader monetary history and evolution.

## Notable For
- **Longevity**: Has served as Haiti's official currency since 1872, demonstrating over 150 years of continuous use
- **Third Iteration**: Represents the third distinct version of Haiti's gourde monetary system
- **Dual Classification**: Uniquely classified as both an instance of "currency" and a subclass of "gourde"
- **National Sovereignty**: Functions as a symbol of Haitian economic independence and self-governance
- **Global Currency Network**: Exists as one of the world's recognized national currencies within a framework documented across 166 languages and numerous international authority systems

## Body

### Core Definition and Classification
The third gourde (1872–date) is defined by its Wikidata description as "Haitian currency." It holds a specific taxonomic position in knowledge systems as an **instance of** the class `currency` and a **subclass of** `gourde`. This dual classification reflects both its functional role as an active monetary system and its historical relationship to the gourde monetary tradition. As a currency, it inherits the fundamental characteristic of being a `currency unit` and belongs to the broader conceptual hierarchy that classifies currency under four parent concepts: `medium of exchange`, `unit of measurement`, `money`, and `means of payment`.

### Temporal Scope
The designation "1872–date" establishes the third gourde's timeline from its introduction in 1872 through to the present day. This period of circulation spans over a century and a half, covering significant historical periods in Haiti's development as a nation.

### Relationship to the Currency Concept
As an instance of currency, the third gourde operates within a globally documented framework. The currency concept itself is:
- Defined as "a generally accepted medium of exchange for goods or services"
- Documented across 166 language editions on Wikipedia
- Classified under Dewey Decimal Classification `332.4` (Finance)
- Assigned extensive authority control identifiers, including GND ID `4064147-8`, YSO ID `3573`, BabelNet ID `00024507n`, and Freebase ID `/m/01q7`
- Represented by the Unicode character `💵`
- Listed on Wikipedia's "Vital articles/Level/4" as of October 31, 2022

The broader currency concept has been described in major historical encyclopedic sources including the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890), and the modern reference Lean Logic.

### Conceptual Distinctions
The third gourde, as a currency, is explicitly differentiated from several related but distinct concepts:
- **Money**: Currency is a specific form of money in circulation within a country, while money encompasses a broader range of financial assets
- **Coin**: Coins represent a specific physical manifestation of currency, while the third gourde as a currency includes all forms—physical and potentially digital
- **Foreign currencies**: The third gourde is specifically Haiti's domestic currency, distinct from external monetary units

### Global Currency Context
The third gourde exists alongside other prominent world currencies that serve as model examples of the currency class. These include the United States dollar, euro, Indian rupee, and Icelandic króna. All these currencies share the fundamental characteristics of functioning as mediums of exchange, units of account, stores of value, and means of payment within their respective national economies.

### Linguistic and Cultural Presence
The concept of currency, encompassing entities like the third gourde, is recognized across numerous languages and cultural contexts with aliases including `monetary unit`, `unit of money`, `divisa` (Spanish), `devise` (French), `Geldeinheit` (German), `通貨` (Japanese/Chinese), `валюты` (Russian), and `unidade monetária` (Portuguese). Currency as a concept also appears in fictional universes, with dedicated documentation in settings like Star Wars and Forgotten Realms, demonstrating its fundamental role as a world-building and economic structuring element.

### Authority and Documentation Systems
The currency concept, of which the third gourde is an instance, is integrated into extensive global knowledge networks:
- **Thesauri and Ontologies**: UNESCO Thesaurus (ID `concept7246`), WordNet (synset `13407086-n`), STW Thesaurus for Economics (ID `10764-3`), UK Parliament Thesaurus (ID `90801`)
- **Library Systems**: Colon Classification `X61`, German Basisklassifikation `83.44`
- **Media Platforms**: BBC Things, ABC News, The Guardian, France 24, Quora
- **Academic Resources**: JSTOR, Encyclopædia Britannica, Microsoft Academic (discontinued, ID `141121606`)
- **Specialized Databases**: Nomisma (`currency`), Joconde Object Type (ID `T505-2230`), Portable Antiquities Scheme (ID `CURRENCY`)