Introduced in 1663, this unit of currency got its name because the gold it was first minted with was from Africa’s west coast

The Final Jeopardy clue for Monday, September 28, 2026, appeared in the category “Former Currencies” and read: “Introduced in 1663, this unit of currency got its name because the gold it was first minted with was from Africa’s west coast.” The clue points to a famous British gold coin whose name came directly from the region that supplied the precious metal used in its earliest issues.

What Is the Guinea?

The correct response is the guinea. The English guinea was first minted in 1663 during the reign of King Charles II and was made from gold obtained through trade with the Guinea region of West Africa.

That source of gold gave the coin its name. Rather than being named for a monarch or denomination, the guinea became identified with the geographic origin of the metal from which the earliest coins were struck.

The Guinea’s Origins in 1663

The guinea was introduced after the restoration of the English monarchy, when Charles II was on the throne. Early guineas were produced by the Royal Mint and initially had a value of 20 shillings, or one pound.

Because the market price of gold fluctuated, however, the guinea’s actual value in shillings also changed over time. It eventually settled at 21 shillings, equivalent to one pound and one shilling.

Why West Africa Gave the Coin Its Name

The gold used for the first guineas was supplied through the Royal African Company, which operated along the West African coast. Europeans at the time broadly used the name Guinea for sections of that coastal region.

The geographic connection became so closely associated with the coin that “guinea” remained its familiar name long after the specific origin of the gold was no longer central to its production.

How the Guinea Became Part of British Life

For more than a century, the guinea was an important British gold coin. It was used for major transactions and became particularly associated with professional fees, luxury purchases, horses, art, and other expensive goods.

Even after guinea coins stopped circulating, the unit survived in pricing customs. Certain fees and auction prices continued to be quoted in guineas, with one guinea understood as 21 shillings rather than an even pound.

Why the Guinea Disappeared

The guinea was eventually replaced as Britain’s principal gold coin by the sovereign in the early 19th century. The Great Recoinage of 1816 reorganized the British monetary system and established the sovereign at a value of one pound.

That ended the guinea’s role as a circulating coin, although its name and 21-shilling valuation remained culturally familiar for generations.

Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works

This clue works because the year and the geographical word origin reinforce one another. A British gold currency introduced in 1663 already narrows the possibilities, while the reference to gold from Africa’s west coast points directly to Guinea.

The correct response, the guinea, fits every part of the clue. It was first minted in 1663, took its name from the West African source of its early gold, and became one of the best-known former units of British currency.