What did you get for a Dollar ?

[TheDane]

Hi TNetters

I am interested in the value of different currencies at the historical time of their minting.
What could you actually buy for the money.
My question:

What could you get for a US-Dollar:

In 1800
In 1850
In 1900
In 1950
? ? ?

I thank you for any help !

 

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[relichunters]

A Pre WW1 dollar would buy you what $20 buys now.

But I don't know what item values were

 

[Iron Patch]

Less and less.

You might not get many replies because this is no doubt a sore spot considering the US dollar has plummeted and will probably never return anywhere close to what it once was.

 

[worldtalker]

1970 A Big Mac,Fries and a coke and change back!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheDane]

Less and less.

You might not get many replies because this is no doubt a sore spot considering the US dollar has plummeted and will probably never return anywhere close to what it once was.

Well, that is the same all over I guess.
In my childhood more than 40 years ago, I could get a full little bag of candy for 1 danish Crown. Today most single pieces of candy cost the same !

 

[Iron Patch]

Less and less.

You might not get many replies because this is no doubt a sore spot considering the US dollar has plummeted and will probably never return anywhere close to what it once was.

Well, that is the same all over I guess.
In my childhood more than 40 years ago, I could get a full little bag of candy for 1 danish Crown. Today most single pieces of candy cost the same !

No, I'm not talking about inflation, just the last 10 years the dollar has nose-dived.

 

[TheDane]

Less and less.

You might not get many replies because this is no doubt a sore spot considering the US dollar has plummeted and will probably never return anywhere close to what it once was.

Well, that is the same all over I guess.
In my childhood more than 40 years ago, I could get a full little bag of candy for 1 danish Crown. Today most single pieces of candy cost the same !

No, I'm not talking about inflation, just the last 10 years the dollar has nose-dived.

Well, look at it this way: Makes it cheaper for me to come visit your wonderful country !!

 

[diggummup]

Here is a calculator for the purchasing power of the American dollar -http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ppowerus/
However this isn't realistic because it doesn't really answer the question you posed, because a dollar doesn't buy what it did back then when compared with the calculator statistics. For example in 1800 the dollar had the purchasing power of $17.90, but in 1800 that $1.00 would buy you 3 meals and a room, today $17.90 won't buy you 3 meals hardly. This link will help answer some questions as far as the historic price of food goes- http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html#tavern pretty interesting stuff.

 

[TheDane]

Here is a calculator for the purchasing power of the American dollar -http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ppowerus/
However this isn't realistic because it doesn't really answer the question you posed, because a dollar doesn't buy what it did back then when compared with the calculator statistics. For example in 1800 the dollar had the purchasing power of $17.90, but in 1800 that $1.00 would buy you 3 meals and a room, today $17.90 won't buy you 3 meals hardly. This link will help answer some questions as far as the historic price of food goes- http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html#tavern pretty interesting stuff.

Thanks diggummup

Strange, it says $17.90 in 1800, but $26 in 1900 ??

 

[rockhound]

I was showing an old man a mercury dime that I had found and he wanted to know the date."1923",I said. He just looked at me and said,"you know how much I could have bought with that dime in 1923?,I could have gone to the store and bought a months worth of dried beans,corn, and coffee. It would have almost filled a buckoard.I was working for 10cents a day plus meals on a farm in 1923,and that was a 12 hour day." It really put things in perspective. rockhound

 

[diggummup]

Here is a calculator for the purchasing power of the American dollar -http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ppowerus/
However this isn't realistic because it doesn't really answer the question you posed, because a dollar doesn't buy what it did back then when compared with the calculator statistics. For example in 1800 the dollar had the purchasing power of $17.90, but in 1800 that $1.00 would buy you 3 meals and a room, today $17.90 won't buy you 3 meals hardly. This link will help answer some questions as far as the historic price of food goes- http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html#tavern pretty interesting stuff.

Thanks diggummup

Strange, it says $17.90 in 1800, but $26 in 1900 ??

Maybe something to do with the "Second Industrial Revolution" in America at the time or the "Gilded age"?