DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '25 I => Current Talk '02 I => Topic started by: Bob_the_Bartender on March 22, 2002, 09:23:16 PM

Title: The Color of Money - circa 1797
Post by: Bob_the_Bartender on March 22, 2002, 09:23:16 PM

Let's see, Joshua offers $20,000 in gold plus the proceeds of Barnabas' estate (say, another five grand) to Angelique in order to blow town.

I wonder what the buying power of $25,000 would be at the end of the eighteenth century?  I remember that Professor Reitemier mentioned something about the relative value of the nineteenth century dollar back in Economics class, but I can't remember exactly what.

Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say that Mrs. Bouchard-Collins could have lived like the proverbial queen in Paris or Rome on that amount.  Angelique should have taken the money and run when Ol' sourpuss Collins offered her the dough.  

I guess that Angelique felt that she had to "attend to" her husband before she left Collinsport, because she feared him following her wherever she went.

By the way, set your vcr's at sp mode for Monday.  A wonderful blooper will occur at the beginning of the first episode.  I will say no more!!!

Have a nice weekend!

Bob the Bartender, on his way to Trump's Casino in Atlantic City.

Title: Re: The Color of Money - circa 1797
Post by: Luciaphile on March 23, 2002, 01:26:01 AM

Quote

I wonder what the buying power of $25,000 would be at the end of the eighteenth century?  I remember that Professor Reitemier mentioned something about the relative value of the nineteenth century dollar back in Economics class, but I can't remember exactly what.

I think it would equate to a small fortune in today's terms.  Let's remember that it wasn't too far back in this century when $40,000 salary a year was a princely sum.

Vicki is being paid $4 a month to be governess.  That should put the sum in perspective.

Luciaphil

Title: Re: The Color of Money - circa 1797
Post by: Luciaphile on March 23, 2002, 01:50:16 AM

I found this online--CPI index only goes back to 1913, but there is a formula of sorts here for 1800 to present.

I don't do math, so one of you folks who do, will have to perform the calculation.

Consumer Price Index (Estimate) 1800-2000 (http://woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/economy/calc/hist1800.html)

Luciaphil

Title: Re: The Color of Money - circa 1797
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on March 23, 2002, 02:35:37 AM

According to that formula, $20,000 in 1800 would be worth $211,960.78. Not exactly a king's ransom, but someone could live comfortably on it for several years. [winkb]

Title: Re: The Color of Money - circa 1797
Post by: Dr. Eric Lang on March 23, 2002, 02:43:19 AM

I noticed that Vicki is getting paid $4 a month to governess. In the 1991 revival series Joshua offered Victoria a salary of $30 a year! That's $2.50 a month. But then in the revival series the story took place in 1790, so perhaps in five years inflation forced families to pay their governess the princely sum of $4! LOL!

Chris