the value of $100 in the 1860's compared to today?

Answer 1

Assuming you're talking about US currency, you can go to

http://woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/research/data/us/calc/hist1800.cfm

It depends on when in the 1860's. As you can see from the data, inflation was variable, and deflation was not uncommon. Depending on the year, it can be as much as $2200 or a little as $1300, roughly.

Answer 2

Well, I am not sure about the 1860s, but I have read accounts of people working for .50 to 1.50 a day in the 1870s and 80s, when they weren't paid by "piece" work, like a half penny for each button hole sewn in a shirt, and they had to purchase their own needles and thread, so it must have been a little worse in the 1860s. I think $100 would equal 1/4 to 1/2 a years wages for the poor working person. Of course, I also have read that union soldiers during the War Between the States were paid about $15 @ month, so $100 would be just over six months pay for them and that was in the 1860s.

Answer 3

Actually, Federal privates were paid $13.00 per month.

Adonai was right about Federal and Confederate currency, but he forgot to mention the vast difference between paper currency and hard money, i.e. gold Iand silver coins. Paper money was discounted as much as 50% of the value of hard money at various times and places. With plenty of reason, people just did not trust paper money as much as they trusted hard coin.

I've also heard of a US $5.00 gold coin being auctioned for over $5,000.00 Confederate paper.

If you are interested in inflation, an item costing $100.00 1860 dollars would be cost $2165.87 in 2006 dollars.

Or to put it another way, if what you bought for $100.00 in 2006 could be had in 1860, it would have cost $4.62.

Before you start grinning about how cheap things were, consider a couple of points. Average wages were less than $5.00 per week for a 60 or 70 hour week. And pay of a dollar per day was considered to be good wages.

Does this answer your question?

Doc

Answer 4

During the 1860's, in the U.S. there were two primary sources of monies; one was Union-Federal and the other Confederate-Southern.

While the Federal money held value the Confederate monitary value dropped and was near useless in value.

Near wars end Confederate currency was'nt worth spit. One coulden't buy a loaf of bread with a barrel full of it. The Southern President, Jefferson Davis, simply printed it but the wagon load to fund the war against the North; sound familiar? Since there was so much printed paper money, and little goods or gold around, it was worthless.

Answer 5

back then in the 1800s even 100 dollars was rich and was alot of money but today 100 dollars is nothing compared to thousands to hundredth thousands and millions,billions,trillions.

Answer 6

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/