Definition

1. Noun:
   • 22-karat gold from which guinea coins were made: A specific type of high-purity gold historically used to mint British guinea coins.
   • Brass with a reddish tint: A type of brass alloy containing a high proportion of copper, giving it a reddish-gold color, used in plumbing, hardware, and inexpensive jewelry.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The antique dealer identified the coin as being made of genuine guinea gold.
  • The old faucet was made from guinea gold, a durable and affordable brass alloy.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Numismatic Context: The term is primarily used in historical or numismatic discussions to refer to the specific gold standard of the former British guinea coin (minted from 1663 to 1813).
• Material Science/Manufacturing: In industrial contexts, "guinea gold" can describe a category of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) with a high copper content, valued for its corrosion resistance, machinability, and gold-like appearance.

Variants and Related Words

• Guinea: (noun) The former British gold coin, originally made from gold sourced from the Guinea coast of Africa.
• Red brass: (noun) A similar term for brass alloys with high copper content, often synonymous with "guinea gold" in its second meaning.
• Ormolu: (noun) A gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc, and sometimes tin, used for decorative purposes, distinct from but visually similar to guinea gold.

Synonyms

• 22-karat gold (for the first meaning).
• Red brass, Low brass, Gilding metal (for the second meaning, referring to copper-rich brass alloys).

Related Phrases

• Made of guinea gold: Constructed from this specific material.
  • The historical plaque was made of guinea gold.
• Guinea gold finish: A surface treatment designed to mimic the appearance of this reddish-gold alloy.
  • The lamp had a warm guinea gold finish.

Notes on Meaning

The word "guinea gold" has two distinct, specialized meanings: 1. A historical precious metal (gold) used for coinage. 2. A modern base metal alloy (brass) used for industrial and decorative purposes. The context is crucial for determining which meaning is intended. The connection between them is the reddish-gold color.

Noun

1. 22-karat gold from which guinea coins were made
2. brass with enough copper to give it a reddish tint; used for plumbing pipe and other brass hardware and in cheap jewelry