Value of old coins when they were lost...

[jbow]

I realize that there may be a better forum for this question but I mostly come here and I figure someone here will know...

I found a 1890 V nickel a few days ago and it made me wonder just how much money did a person lose if they lost a nickel in say... 1900.

The reason I ask is because of a story my dad, who is 90 years old, told me. He said when he was a kid he could go buy a fresh bkaed loaf of bread and go to the movies all with a nickel. He would eat the bread out of the crust while watching the movie.

So... does that mean that losing a nickel in the mid- 20s was like losing 10 bucks today? I bet losing a silver dollar was like losing a days wages.

Thanks,

 

[Dang]

Imagine how sick someone felt when they lost a 20 dollar gold piece !!

 

[jbow]

that could very well have represented a months wages... they probably felt as bad as I will good if I find it.

Julien

 

[Jim upstate NY]

check out this site... put in year of coin then desired year of this year.. enter .05 in the amount field or any amount you want and any year in desired

http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

 

[king-ghidorah]

check out this site... put in year of coin then desired year of this year.. enter .05 in the amount field or any amount you want and any year in desired

http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

cool site, thxs 4 the link.

 

[Crash620]

n/t

 

[jbow]

i'm still not sure what it maens it practical terms though... not that smart.

I guess a nickel in 1900 is about the value a a 5 spot today... give or take.

Thanks for the link!

Julien

 

[Weasel_Loader]

I often wondered that myself. Early 20th century and 19th century, I'd say a person would have been pretty pissed over losing a dime. But as we've seen, these people still lost money in the parks however careless.

 

[digitrich]

Guns in the late 1800's were pretty pricey, goods that could be made with local ingredients were cheap and things that took resources from further away were expensive. Train and stage fares were pretty steep in comparison to other services because of monopoly's. Look for a reprint of the old Sears and Roebuck Catalogs, they are really a fascinating and fun read. I dug up a 1854 half dollar and thought to myself "wasn't this a weeks wages back then", I actually felt bad for the guy who lost it:

 

[John - Maryland]

n/t