Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Money and the Exchange Rate
During the English Renaissance

Table 1: Approximate Values of Elizabethan Money

	Denominations	Value	Purchasing Value	Equivalent
Silver Coins	halfpenny (ob.)	½ of a penny	1 quart of ale	$1
	penny (d.)		1 loaf of bread	$2
	twopenny  (half-groat)	2d.		$4
	shilling (s.)	12d.	1 day's earnings for  a craftsman	$25
Gold Coins	half-crown	2s. 6d.	1 days earnings for  a gentleman	$60
	quarter angel	2s. 6d.		$60
	angelet	5s.		$100
	crown	5s	1 week's earnings  for a craftsman	$100
	angel	10s	1 lb. of spices	$250
	sovereign  (new standard)	20s (1 li)		$500
	sovereign  (old standard)	30s		$750
	Dutch florin	2s		$50
	French crown	6s. 4d.		$150
	Spanish ducat	6s. 8d.		$150
Moneys of  Account	farthing (q.)	¼ of a penny		$.50
	three-farthings	¾d.		$1.50
	three-halfpenny	1½d.	1lb. of cheese	$3
	threepenny	3d	1 lb. of butter	$6
	groat	4d.	1 day's food	$8
	mark (marc.)	13s 4d.  (2/3 of 1 li)		$350
	pound (li) £	20s	1 carthorse	$500

Table 2: Sample Wages and Incomes

Shepherd's Boy	2½d. / day with food	$3 / day with food
Shepherd	6d. / week with food	$12 / week with food
Unskilled Rural Labor	2-3d. / day with food	$4-6 / day with food
Plowman	1s. / week with food	$25 / week with food
Skilled Rural Laborer	6d. / day	$12 / day
Laborer	9d. / day  26s 6d. /year with food & drink	$16 / day  $662 /year with food & drink
Craftsman	12d./day, 7d. with food & drink  £4-10 / year with food & drink	$24/day, $14 with food & drink  $2000-$5000 / year with food   & drink
Yeoman	£2-6 / year or more	$1000-3000 / year or more
Minor Parson	£10-30 / year	$5000-15000 / year
Esquire	£500-1000 / year	$250,000 - $500,000 / year
Knight	£1000-2000 / year	$500,000 - $1,000,000 / year
Nobleman	£2500 / year	$1,250,000 / year
30-acre landowner	£14, or a surplus of £3-5 after   paying for foodstuffs	$7000, or a surplus of   $1500-$2500 after paying for   foodstuffs
Soldier	5d. / day	$10 / day
Sergeant, Drummer	8½d. / day	$17 / day
Ensign	1s. / day	$25 / day
Lieutenant	2s. / day	$50 / day
Captain	4s. / day	$100 / day

Table 3: Sample Prices of Goods and Services

Meal at an Inn	4-6d.	$8-12
Bed in an Inn	1d.	$2
Food for one day	4d.	$8
Butter (1 lb.)	3d.	$6
Eggs (3)	1d.	$2
Beef (1 lb.)	3d.	$6
Sugar (1 lb.)	20s.	$500
Pepper (1 lb.)	4s.	$100
Ale (1 qt.)	½d.	$1
Officer's canvas doublet	14s 5d.	$360
Shoes	1s.	$25
Candles (48)	3s. 3d.	$81
Knives (2)	8d.	$16
Spectacles (2 pr)	6d.	$12
Bible	£2	$1000
Small book	6d.-2s.	$12-$50
Tooth pulled	2s.	$50
Horse	£1-2	$500-$1000
Hiring a horse	12d. / day or  2½d. / mile	$24 / day  $5 / mile
Gentleman's meal in his room  at an Inn	2s.	$50
Lodging a horse	12-18d.	$24-$36
Loaf of bread	1d.	$2
Chhese (1 lb.)	1½d.	$3
Fresh Salmon	13s. 4d.	$331
Cherries (1 lb.)	3d.	$6
Cloves (1 lb.)	11s	$275
Wine (1 qt.)	1s.	$25
Tobacco	3s. / ounce	$75 / ounce
Officer's cassock	27s. 7d.	$689
White silf hose	25s.	$625
Soap (1 lb.)	4d.	$8
Bed	4s.	$100
Scissors	6d.	$12
Broadside ballad	1d.	$2
Theater admission	1, 2, or 3d.	$2, 4, 6
Portraits	62s. to £6	$1550 - $3000
Hiring a coach	10s. / day	$250 / day
Coat of Armor	£120 - £200	$60,000 - $100,000

 

Main Menu	Culture Menus