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I'm reading a book that takes place at the turn of the 20th century, and it refers to an Italian immigrant sending money home to his family in Italy from America, where he was working. In what form did immigrants send money home? Was American currency accepted worldwide, or did the immigrants exchange money to their native currency, as we do now?

2007-01-05 15:33:14 · 7 answers · asked by Rebecca 5 in Politics & Government Immigration

I'm not saying I think American money wasn't good back then, I'm wondering in what form they sent it back to their native countries. If someone in a small Italian village received American money (in the early 1900s), could they use it in their village, just like Italian money?

2007-01-05 15:42:45 · update #1

7 answers

Since currency was adopted by "civilized" societies there have always been people who were known as "moneychangers" usually these were merchants or tradesmen who travelled frequently.

2007-01-05 16:11:45 · answer #1 · answered by RENEGADE. 3 · 2 0

they pay a man in united states thier own western union thing going on type of thing currency never changes hands he lets the people over there he tells his branch his associates about the money he recd and they give it to the family it was sent to at there currency rate of course as a western union there is a charge i hope this helped

2007-01-05 23:42:40 · answer #2 · answered by sunshine 5 · 1 0

Western union was involved with this and the money was either converted or could stay the same just like it is now. For a fee of course.

2007-01-05 23:38:06 · answer #3 · answered by intheskeye 2 · 1 0

they gave it to a guy who swapped it for gold coins. He would then swim across the Atlantic Ocean, give the coins to the italians and there started the great money exchange.Of course back then fast "swim" transfers were like 6 to 9 months.

2007-01-06 00:00:47 · answer #4 · answered by revelation2us 2 · 0 1

By snail mail. If you can go to mexico and buy at their markets there with american money today, why would you not think that america money was not good back then.

2007-01-05 23:39:49 · answer #5 · answered by m c 5 · 0 1

Bank drafts were common.

2007-01-05 23:41:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

they send money orders generally.

2007-01-05 23:36:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 3

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