Guīn'ea, n.

(gīn'e), n. [From Guinea, in Africa, abounding in gold.] A gold coin of England current for twenty-one shillings sterling, or about five dollars, but no longer issued.

The guinea, so called from the Guinea gold out of which it was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663, and to go for twenty shillings; but it never went for less than twenty-one shillings. Pinkerton.