1681 Gold Guinea Charles II

A 1681 Charles II Gold Guinea.

You will receive the actual coin pictured. Condition Fair/Fine.

text reads

Carolvs II DEI GRATIA (Charles II by the Grace of God)

MAG.BR.FRA.ET.HIB REX 1681 (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland)

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 it's 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.