spade guinea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, formal, specialized (numismatics).
Quick answer
What does “spade guinea” mean?
A British gold coin minted from 1787 to 1799, characterized by a spade-shaped shield on the reverse side.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A British gold coin minted from 1787 to 1799, characterized by a spade-shaped shield on the reverse side.
A historical artifact; a term used in numismatics (coin collecting) and historical contexts, sometimes extended metaphorically to refer to something old-fashioned or of great, traditional value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British in origin and historical reference. In American English, it would only be used by specialists in British history or coin collecting.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries connotations of Georgian-era history and heritage. In the US, it is purely a technical or historical term with no cultural resonance.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Marginally more likely to be encountered in British historical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “spade guinea” in a Sentence
The collector acquired [a spade guinea].The auction featured [a rare spade guinea].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spade guinea” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- spade-guinea era
- a spade-guinea collection
American English
- spade-guinea expert
- spade-guiana auction
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in the niche auction and antique dealer sectors.
Academic
Used in historical, economic, and numismatic research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in numismatics for a specific type of British guinea.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spade guinea”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spade guinea”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spade guinea”
- Incorrect: 'He paid with a spade guinea.' (Used in modern context) / Correct: 'The museum displayed a spade guinea.'
- Incorrect: 'A spade guinea shovel.' / Correct: 'A spade guinea coin.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, spade guineas were minted in 22-karat gold.
No, it is demonetised historical currency, valuable only as a collectible or for its gold content.
The name originates from the Guinea coast of West Africa, where much of the gold used for the early coins was sourced.
Its value depends on condition, rarity, and gold price, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds for exceptional specimens.
A British gold coin minted from 1787 to 1799, characterized by a spade-shaped shield on the reverse side.
Spade guinea is usually historical, formal, specialized (numismatics). in register.
Spade guinea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspeɪd ˈɡɪni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspeɪd ˈɡɪni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As rare as a spade guinea (very rare).”
- “Not worth a spade guinea (worthless, ironic given its value).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a playing card SPADE digging (a spade) for GOLD in Africa (Guinea) to make a coin.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUABLE OBJECT IS A HISTORICAL ARTIFACT (e.g., 'His honesty is like a spade guinea—rare and from a better age.').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'spade' refer to in 'spade guinea'?