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 historic British gold coin whose name came directly from the region that supplied the precious metal used for its earliest issues.

What Is the Guinea?

The correct response is the guinea. The English gold guinea was first issued in 1663 during the reign of Charles II. Its name came from the Guinea region of West Africa, an important source of the gold used in the first coins.

The geographic reference is the key to the clue. Rather than being named for a monarch or denomination, the coin took its familiar name from the African coast associated with the trade that supplied its gold.

The Guinea’s Origins in 1663

The guinea was introduced after the restoration of the English monarchy and was among the first British coins produced with machine-minting techniques. Early issues carried the portrait of Charles II and were made from gold connected with the Royal African Company.

Because much of that gold came from the part of West Africa then commonly known to Europeans as Guinea, people began referring to the new coin by that name. The informal description eventually became the coin’s standard name.

What a Guinea Was Worth

A guinea was originally intended to be worth 20 shillings, the same as one pound sterling. Because it was made of gold, however, its market value fluctuated with the price of the metal.

Its value was eventually fixed at 21 shillings, or one pound and one shilling. That unusual value became strongly associated with the guinea and survived even after the physical coin disappeared.

The Guinea After the Coin Disappeared

The guinea ceased to be minted in the early 19th century, with the sovereign replacing it as Britain’s principal gold coin. Even so, the guinea continued to be used as a unit of account.

Prices for certain luxury goods and professional services were traditionally quoted in guineas. Horse racing and livestock sales also retained the term, preserving a currency unit long after people stopped carrying guinea coins.

The West African Connection

The name provides a reminder of the international networks behind early modern European currencies. Britain’s gold supply was linked to commerce along the West African coast, and the guinea’s name permanently recorded that relationship.

The historical context also includes the activities of the Royal African Company, whose trade in the region included both commodities and enslaved people. The coin therefore emerged from a wider system of British commercial expansion in West Africa during the 17th century.

Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works

This clue works because it combines monetary history with geography and etymology. The date 1663 points toward an early British gold coin, while the reference to Africa’s west coast explains the origin of its distinctive name.

The correct response, the guinea, fits every part of the clue. It was introduced in 1663, was originally struck using West African gold, and received its name from the Guinea region from which that gold was obtained.