Wikipedia
Wikipedia content is not yet automatically copied to this page.
For now, you can directly visit this topic on Wikipedia.
Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
Wikipedia content is not yet automatically copied to this page.
For now, you can directly visit this topic on Wikipedia.
Guineas took their name from the gold brought from Guinea by the African Company in 1663, who, as an encouragement to bring over gold to be coined, were permitted by their charter from Charles II. to have their stamp of an elephant upon the coin. When first coined they were valued at 20s., but were worth 30s. in 1695. There were likewise fivepound pieces, like the guinea, with the inscription upon the rim.