1677 Gold Guinea Coin Charles II
A 1677 Charles II Gold Guinea. The one Guinea gold coin took its name from the region of West Africa where much of the Gold for the coins originally came from. It contains approximately 8.4 grams of 22ct gold - almost exactly 1/4 oz fine Gold. The coins are approximately 24mm in diameter the specification varied slightly throughout the 151 years of its life. The Guinea (worth 21 shillings) was eventually replaced by the smaller Gold Sovereign (worth 20 shillings) in 1817, but the use of the unit continues to this day - implying a commission of 5% on the pound value. Text reads: CARLOVS II DEI GRATIA (Charles II by the Grace of God). MAG.BR.FRA.ET.HIB REX 1688 (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland 1679).