Pound vs Guinea Quiz: Test Yourself
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The main unit of British money; 20 shillings in old money.
“The ticket costs one pound.”
An old British unit worth 21 shillings (£1.05).
“The painting sold for fifty guineas.”
An old British coin; 20 made a pound.
“A guinea is a pound plus a shilling.”
A common misspelling of guinea.
“Write guinea, not guine.”
Pound vs guinea is a question that comes up in old novels, horse-racing names and auction listings, where prices appear in guineas instead of pounds. The two units were close in value, but they were not the same, and the small gap mattered. This guide explains how each one worked, how to convert between them and how to spell guinea correctly.
Pound vs Guinea at a Glance
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pound | The main unit of British money, 20 shillings in the old system (£1) | Noun (currency) | “It costs ten pounds.” |
| Guinea | An old British unit and coin worth 21 shillings (£1.05) | Noun (old currency unit) | “The doctor charged two guineas.” |
| Shilling | An old British coin; 20 shillings made a pound | Noun (old coin) | “A guinea was 21 shillings.” |
What is a pound?
A pound is the main unit of British money, also called the pound sterling and written with the symbol £. Before decimal currency arrived in Britain in 1971, one pound was made up of 20 shillings, and each shilling was made up of 12 pence.
Today the pound is divided into 100 pence, which is simpler. A pound is also a unit of weight (about 0.45 kilograms), but that meaning has nothing to do with the guinea.
What was a guinea?
A guinea was an old British unit of money worth 21 shillings, which is one pound and one shilling. The gold guinea coin was first struck in 1663, and its name comes from the Guinea region of West Africa, where much of the gold used to make it was sourced.
The guinea coin stopped being made in the early 1800s, when the gold sovereign took over. Even so, the guinea survived as a way of stating prices, long after the coin itself disappeared.
How much is a guinea worth today?
In decimal money, a guinea equals £1.05, or 105 pence. That comes from 21 shillings: one pound plus one extra shilling, which is worth 5 pence today.
To convert, multiply the number of guineas by 1.05. For example, 100 guineas is £105. Remember that this is only the face value in old units, not what a historical coin would be worth to a collector or in gold today.
Pound vs Guinea: What Is the Difference?
The difference is one shilling. A pound was 20 shillings, and a guinea was 21, so a guinea was always slightly more valuable than a pound.
- Value: pound = £1.00; guinea = £1.05.
- Status today: the pound is the live currency; the guinea is a historical unit.
- Form: the pound is notes and coins; the guinea was a gold coin and later only a unit of account.
- Feel: prices in guineas often sounded more upmarket than prices in pounds.
Why were prices quoted in guineas?
Guineas were often used for professional fees and for luxury goods, because a price in guineas sounded more refined than a price in pounds. Doctors, lawyers, tailors and art sellers commonly priced this way.
The extra shilling also gave the seller a small margin over a round pound figure. The habit continued well after the coin disappeared and faded mainly after decimalization in 1971.
Where do guineas still appear today?
Guineas survive mainly in tradition. The most famous examples are the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas, two well-known horse races held at Newmarket in England. Some horse auctions and bloodstock sales also still quote prices in guineas.
You will also meet guineas in older books and period dramas, where a character might pay “five guineas” for a service.
Is it guinea or guine?
The correct spelling is guinea. Guine is a misspelling that leaves off the final a. The word is pronounced GIN-ee, which is why the ending is easy to miss when writing it.
It is also worth noting the similar-looking Guinea with a capital G, which is a country in West Africa, and the place names Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and Papua New Guinea. A guinea pig is a small rodent kept as a pet. In all of these, the spelling still ends in -ea.
What are the most common mistakes?
- ✗ A guine was worth 21 shillings.
✓ A guinea was worth 21 shillings. - ✗ A guinea was worth exactly one pound.
✓ A guinea was worth one pound and one shilling, or £1.05. - ✗ The 2000 Guine is a famous horse race.
✓ The 2000 Guineas is a famous horse race. - ✗ She keeps a pet Guinea pig.
✓ She keeps a pet guinea pig. - ✗ A pound used to have 21 shillings.
✓ A pound had 20 shillings; a guinea had 21.
How can you remember which one to use?
Three simple tricks keep the units and the spelling straight.
- 20 plus 1. A pound is 20 shillings, and a guinea is a pound plus one more shilling, so 21.
- Guinea means a little extra. A guinea always cost slightly more than a pound.
- End with the “a.” Guinea ends in -ea, like the country, so the missing a in guine is the giveaway.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pound and a guinea?
A pound was worth 20 shillings, while a guinea was worth 21 shillings, so a guinea was a pound plus a shilling.
How much is a guinea worth today?
In decimal money, a guinea equals £1.05, which is 105 pence.
Is it guinea or guine?
It is guinea. Guine is a misspelling that leaves off the final a.
Why is it called a guinea?
The gold coin was first struck in 1663 and took its name from the Guinea region of West Africa, where much of the gold came from.
Are guineas still used today?
Only in tradition, mainly in horse racing names such as the 2000 Guineas, some horse auctions and older books.
Final thoughts on pound vs guinea
To sum up pound vs guinea: a pound is 20 shillings (£1), and a guinea was 21 shillings (£1.05). Remember “20 plus 1” and the -ea ending, and you will never mix them up. Share this with someone who mixes these up!