What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650s

[SEAHUNTER]

What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

We were just wondering what a piece of eight would buy in the 1650's or what was the average wage for a sailor? Would love to hear a lot on this subject.

 

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[FISHEYE]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

A bottle of rum,a wench and a room in a flop house.

 

[capt dom]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

But for how long!!!
Depended probably on the quality of the wench!

 

[FISHEYE]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

How long?Till the rum bottle was empty.

 

[Au_Dreamers]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

Somewhere around 2-3 reales a day pay.

A dozen eggs cost about 3/4 of a reale.

Food for a day would cost about 1 1/2 reales. (self prepared)
Dinner of bread and roast beef in a tavern with a couple pints of ale cost almost 1 reale.

A shirt cost about 21 1/4 reales
Shoes about 18 reales
A pound of tobacco about 1/3 reale

Renting lodging cost about 32 reales a month for something fairly modest.
A small house (purchase) cost about 14 months wages. (for a sailor)

 

[eborac]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

A small house (purchase) cost about 14 months wages. (for a sailor)
You're kidding ?
That's about a hundred times better than in Australia these days. Well, some distance to go yet here before catching up with the 1600's

 

[Au_Dreamers]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

A small house (purchase) cost about 14 months wages. (for a sailor)
You're kidding ?
That's about a hundred times better than in Australia these days. Well, some distance to go yet here before catching up with the 1600's

Well you have to consider the house. I don't have details other than "a small house" but that could mean buckboard walls with two rooms, 200 sq ft. There's no cost for putting plumbing and electric in the house...

But I do agree with you- there is something to be said about "progress."

 

[mad4wrecks]

Re: What would a piece of eight buy in the 1650's

Here is what a piece of eight would buy in the last half of the 1700's:

For 10 Shirts, 12 pesos 4 reales
For 1 White Shirt, 1 peso 4 reales
For 6 pounds of Vermilion, 6 pesos
For 12 pair Scissors, 1 peso 4 reales
For 12 shaving razors, 3 pesos
For 12 ivory Combs, 4 pesos 4 reales
For 12 Mirrors, 3 pesos
For 12 Handkerchiefs, 4 pesos 6 reales
For 12 Bunches of Tobacco, 3 pesos
For 10 Barrels of Cane Brandy, 40 pesos
For 1 Barrel of Cargo, 8 pesos
For 1 Barrel of Wine, 8 pesos
For 10 (Barrels) of Cane Honey, 30 pesos
For 1 Barrel of Cargo, 7 pesos
For the accounts, worked glass, 2 pesos
For 10 sombreros, 10 pesos
For 1 sombrero more finely made, 2 pesos, 4 reales
For 12 pieces of ribbon, 12 pesos

Food
For 2 Fanegas of Salt with their sacks, 5 pesos 6 reales
For 6 arrobas of Beef Jerky, 12 pesos
For 2 arrobas of Pork Jerky, 6 pesos
For 5 arrobas of Corn, 6 pesos 2 reales
For 2 Horse-loads of Firewood, 1 peso 4 reales
Of Viandas and sweet Cane, 5 pesos
For 2 Loads of Casabe, 5 pesos
For 1 quintal of Cookies, 9 pesos
For 1 fresada or Manta, 2 pesos
In cash, 3 pesos

Source: AGI Cuba 1221, f 313

Tom