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 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,510 |
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New Member
United States
16 Posts |
There's a great reference book on the purchasing power of the dollar which you can find at many libraries: The Value of a Dollar + (various subtitles).
Looking at our copy, in 1834 $2.50 could buy you:
11.9 gallons of commodity-priced whiskey in Philadelphia
1/2 of a cloth blue dress coat in Franklin Co., Indiana ($5)
10 gallery seats at the opera in NYC in 1835
5 iron shovels in Worcester, Mass
One crib, with a buck in change in Fredericksburg Co., Virginia ($1.50)
A thermometer in Greenville Co., SC, plue 12.5 cents in change ($2.375)
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
This thread made me interested in the subject - anyone knows what could you buy for 50 cents in 1853?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
Well, $250.00 will buy you 4 megs of RAM in 1993  Edited by 1sikevo
08/04/2008 6:32 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
This thread made me interested in the subject - anyone knows what could you buy for 50 cents in 1853?
Probably a book on comparing prices from 1753 to now. And no sales taxes on that book either. |
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
They knew in 1853 what the prices would be now? Fascinating!  Edited by DL20K
08/05/2008 08:42 am
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New Member
United States
16 Posts |
In 1853, for 50 cents you could buy:
half of a doctor's visit in Chesterfield, SC
almost a gallon of Whale Oil in NYC ($0.52)
a pattern for a black vest or two paint brushes in Greenville, SC
12.5 lbs of beef in Fredericksburg, VA
a bedpan in New Castle Co, Delaware
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
Thanks, it's good to know something more about your coins! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
I've been thinking about putting together a book for collectors for years with this premise. Someone beat me to it, sort of. I would add foreign exchange information and focus the book on historical events. Unfortunately, reality tends to interfere with plans like these.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
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Very interesting. I wonder if people back in 1834 often used these $2.50 gold pieces often, or carried them around with them in their pockets often. About as often as people carry around $100 bills today. |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 2,510 |
First Page
Posted 08/04/2008 3:52 pm
