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From: "Howard Swain" <>
Subject: Re: [HWE] How much ?
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 19:32:37 -0700


Hi Peter and all,

From: <>

> who can tell me how much this would
> be today ? In pounds sterling or U.S. dollars will do

> It seems that I omitted the year of the quote
> concerning the 1,300,000 livre "bribe".
>
> The year was 1532

See:
http://www.lepg.org/money.htm

One problem is that there was a large amount of inflation in the 16th C;
so you have a bit of a moving target.

I think the best way to get a comparison is to compare your amount
to what people could earn. In other words, how long would someone
have to work to earn that amount.

In the second section of the above web page it says:
"In 1500, a skilled artisan made about 4 sou per day,..."
So, since 20 sous make a livre, he would earn about 1 livre per week.

If we estimate (just for the sake of round numbers) that a "skilled artisan"
might make $1000 per week today ($50,000 per year), then we
would equate 1 livre with $1000.

So, your 1,300,000 livres would be $1,300,000,000 -- a pretty
large sum.


Another way to get a comparison is to read historical novels
such as those by Dumas. Assuming of course that he did his
homework and accurately reflects how much things cost in
those days in terms of livres. I know in the Three Musketeers
he often mentions how much things cost. This is set in the early
1600's. So, you might want to try his earlier "Valois Romances",
set in the 1500's. It has been a long time since I read them, so
I don't remember how often prices are mentioned.

Regards,
Howard








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