Monetary Exchange Rates

[MorganTyre]

I know that with the geopolitical situation being what it was the the wildly varying national wealths through the fifty years or so of the GAoP it's hard to pin down anything particularly definite but I'm wondering if this table is accurate enough to work as a GENERAL guideline for determining relative values? This is gleamed from a few mainly contradictory websites but is primarily an adaptation of the table found at http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carls...story/coin.html Also, does anyone have anything to add? Once again I'm trying to just come up with a general guide for relative values.

[JohnnyTarr]

I see that you and I are looking for the same thing, kind of. I was looking for what you could get for those coins. I have not had much luck as of yet. Hope you do better.

[MorganTyre]

I see that you and I are looking for the same thing, kind of. I was looking for what you could get for those coins. I have not had much luck as of yet. Hope you do better.

Well assuming my table is somewhat functional then you're question about what 100 pieces of eight will buy you would work as such: A piece of eight is 1/8th of a spanish dollar (Peso) or one Real (Royal) which is worth (on the table) 25 farthings. Yes I know that the table says 24 farthings but really there is a way bigger margin of error than one farthing so go with what makes the math easier. Anyway that means your 100 pieces of eight is about the same as 2500 farthings which is 2 £ 10 s. Take that number to that probate list and you can get for example:

A silver hilted sword 1£ 10s from Capt. Charles Newell

Severall sea instruments 3 pr of compasses 15s from the good Captain

and still have enough for 2 gallons of rum at 2s4d per gallon

Your gem is impossible to assign a value to as "gem" is too generic a term. For the cutlass, it's clear from the probate records that swords could vary wildly in price. For example, while Capt. Charles's sword from my example was only worth 1£ 10s he apparently had another in his possession worth 4£ 15s or (working through the table) about 6 doubloons.

[Capn_Enigma]

A piece of eight is 1/8th of a spanish dollar (Peso) or one Real (Royal)

Not.

A Piece of Eight has a value of one Peso or eight Reales.

[MorganTyre]

A piece of eight is 1/8th of a spanish dollar (Peso) or one Real (Royal)

Not.

A Piece of Eight has a value of one Peso or eight Reales.

Ahh, my mistake, I was always under the impression that a piece of eight was one of the pieces of a cut up peso but a quick look at the wikipedia shows that you're right. Each individual piece was called a bit apparently. Thanks

[JohnnyTarr]

Ok Now this is going to get fun. Thx for the info I am going to be spending alot of time on those probate sites. I have no idea what I am going to use it for yet but I just needed to know. :)