The guilder was the currency of British Guiana (initially known as Essequibo and Demerara) between 1796 and 1839. The Guianan guilder replaced the Dutch guilder at par after the colonies were captured by the British from the Dutch. 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.