British Guianan guilder
Encyclopedia
The guilder was the currency of British Guiana
(initially known as Essequibo
and Demerara
) between 1796 and 1839.
, in English stiver
. Brazilian pecas (6400 réis
gold coins), known locally as joes, circulated at a value of 22 guilders. The exchange rate to the British pound was initially fixed at 1 pound = 12 guilders (1 guilder = 20 pence
).
In 1836, the guilder was reduced in value to 16 pence and, in 1839, the British pound and British Guiana dollar
replaced the guilder as the currency of British Guiana, at the rates of 1 pound = 15 guilders and 1 dollar = 3⅛ guilders (thus 1 pound = 4.8 dollars; 1 dollar = 4 shillings 2 pence, or 50 pence).
s, worth 3 guilders, and the plugs, worth 3 bits (equal to 15 stiver).
In 1809, regular coins were issued for Essequibo and Demerara in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 3 guilders, followed in 1813 by ½ and 1 stiver coins and ⅛ guilder coins from 1832.
1836 saw the introduction of a new series of coins denominated solely in guilders. This year also saw the first production of fourpenny coins by the British Royal Mint
for use in British Guiana (worth ¼ guilder) which did not bear any indication of where the coins were to circulate (they later also circulated in the UK
). Twopenny coins (worth ⅛ guilder) were issued in the same way from 1838.
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
(initially known as Essequibo
Essequibo (colony)
Essequibo was from 1616 to 1814 a Dutch colony in the region of the Essequibo river on the north coast of South America. The colony formed a part of the colonies that are known under the collective name of Dutch Guyana.- History :...
and Demerara
Demerara
Demerara was a region in South America in what is now Guyana that was colonised by the Dutch in 1611. The British invaded and captured the area in 1796...
) between 1796 and 1839.
History
The guilder replaced the Dutch guilder at par after the colonies were captured by the British from the Dutch. The guilder was initially subdivided into 20 stuiverStuiver
The stuiver was a pre-decimal coin used in the Netherlands It was worth 16 penning or 8 duit. Twenty stuivers equalled a guilder.It circulated until the Napoleonic Wars...
, in English stiver
Stiver
The word stiver is derived from the Dutch Stuiver. It was a currency denomination in use in Ceylon from 1801 until 1821. It was also a denomination that formed part of the currency system of Demerara-Essequibo ....
. Brazilian pecas (6400 réis
Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
gold coins), known locally as joes, circulated at a value of 22 guilders. The exchange rate to the British pound was initially fixed at 1 pound = 12 guilders (1 guilder = 20 pence
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
).
In 1836, the guilder was reduced in value to 16 pence and, in 1839, the British pound and British Guiana dollar
Guyanese dollar
The Guyanese dollar has been the unit of account in Guyana since 29 January 1839. Originally it was intended as a transitionary unit to facilitate the changeover from the Dutch guilder system of currency to the British pound sterling system...
replaced the guilder as the currency of British Guiana, at the rates of 1 pound = 15 guilders and 1 dollar = 3⅛ guilders (thus 1 pound = 4.8 dollars; 1 dollar = 4 shillings 2 pence, or 50 pence).
Coins
The first issue of coins from 1798 and 1799 were overstamps on Brazilian pecas. These were followed in 1808 by an issue which consisted of holed Spanish dollarSpanish dollar
The Spanish dollar is a silver coin, of approximately 38 mm diameter, worth eight reales, that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. Its purpose was to correspond to the German thaler...
s, worth 3 guilders, and the plugs, worth 3 bits (equal to 15 stiver).
In 1809, regular coins were issued for Essequibo and Demerara in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 3 guilders, followed in 1813 by ½ and 1 stiver coins and ⅛ guilder coins from 1832.
1836 saw the introduction of a new series of coins denominated solely in guilders. This year also saw the first production of fourpenny coins by the British Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
for use in British Guiana (worth ¼ guilder) which did not bear any indication of where the coins were to circulate (they later also circulated in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). Twopenny coins (worth ⅛ guilder) were issued in the same way from 1838.