Listers:

 

Occasionally there have been questions about the value of money in the early republic.  I ran across this table in the _Virginia Herald_ newspaper, 17 March 1819, Vol. 11, #127.  The table is entitled "Value of Foreign Coins in Money of the United States."  (Taken from the Federal Gazette)

 

                                                                        Dolls.                Cts.                  m.

 

1/16th of a dollar                                                                         .06                    2 ½

½ of a Pistareen                                                                        .10

Real Plate of Spain                                                                    .10

1/8th of a Dollar                                                                           .12                    5

Livre Tournois of France                                                              .18                    5

Franc of do.                                                                               .18                    7 3 10

A Pistareen                                                                               .20

English Shilling                                                                          .22                    2

¼ of a dollar                                                                              .25

Mark Banco of Hamburg                                                             .33                    3

Florin/Guilder of the United Netherlands                                       .40

½ dollar                                                                                     .50

Rupee of Bengal                                                                        .50

Rix Dollar of Denmark                                         1

Rix Dollar of Sweden                                          1

Spanish Dollar                                                   1

Rouble of Russia                                                1

Crowns of England & France                               1                      .11

French Pistole                                                   3                      .66                    7

Pound of Ireland                                                 4                      .10

Pound Sterling of Great Britain                            4                      .44

French Guinea                                                   4                      .66                    6

English Guinea                                                  4                      .66                    7

Half Johannas                                                    8

Dubloon                                                            14                     .93                    3

Johannas                                                          16

 

 

Hope this of some use to some on the lists.

 

Jim Watkinson

 

 

James D. Watkinson, Ph.D.

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