Dear René, Yes, I can read German--but not well enough to speed-read through a multitude of German-language sites that might yield the examples I was looking for. I can read the examples you sent me. Thank you very much for taking the time to help me! And thanks for including the web site references. Teva -----Original Message----- From: baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of rene.granacher@dlh.de Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:39 PM To: baden-wurttemberg@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BW] German money values Teva, I assume you can read some German? There are plenty of websites in German which give examples of how much people earned and how much they had to pay for certain goods at different times. A few examples: Bavaria, around 1630: 5 Kühe = 40 Gulden, 2 Ochsen = 16 Gulden, 2 Jährlinge = 12 Gulden, 5 heurige Kälber = 12 Gulden, 2 Pferde = 75 Gulden, 2 Schweinsmutter = 6 Gulden, 2 zugerichtete Wagen = 24 Gulden. 20 Maß Bier = 1 Gulden. Ein Zentner Korn = 1-1 ½ Gulden. Handwerkerlöhne: Während der Meister für einen Gulden zwei Sommertage (à 12-14 Stunden) arbeiten mußte, erhielt der Geselle einen Gulden erst nach vier Tagen, und der Handlanger und Holzfäller nach 7 Tagen harter Arbeit. http://www.rosstal.de/geschichte/fs1000j/17jhdt.htm 1705: Ein Handwerker bekommt für 1 Stunde Arbeit 3 Kreuzer und kann sich dafür 2 Brötchen kaufen. http://militaria-fundforum.de/archive/index.php/t-78002.html 1748: Zu dieser Zeit kostete 1 Pfund Rindfleisch 24 Pfennig, 1 Pfund Speck 44 Pfennig, 1 Pfund Butter 48 Pfennig http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref_files/1178934602.pdf Austria, around 1830: Zu dieser Zeit kostete ein Pfund Fleisch etwa 3 Gulden, 1 Semmel zu 14 Dekagramm war um 3 Kreuzer zu kaufen http://www.np-gesaeuse.at/download/forschung/Hasitischka_2003_Sulzkaralm.pdf , page 11 Hesse, around 1830: Ein Taglöhner verdiente 1834 täglich etwa 10 Silbergroschen. Zu dieser Zeit kostete ein sechspfündiges Schwarzbrot 4 Silbergroschen, ein Pfund Rind- oder Schweinefleisch 2 Silbergroschen. 1848 war für ein Zentner Kartoffeln 3 Taler zu zahlen. http://www.dalquen.info/texte/franza1.html Around 1850: Wochenlohn eines Baumwoll- und Leinenwebers: 2 Taler, 3 Silbergroschen. Tageslohn einer Strickerin oder Weißnäherin in Berlin: 4 Silbergroschen. Jahreseinkommen von Fabrikanten in Großstädten (Breßlau, Berlin, Aachen..): 20.000 bis 40.000 Taler Wochenkosten eines 5 Personenhaushaltes: 3 ½ Taler 3 ½ Pfund Fleisch: 12 Groschen, 3 Pfennig 3 Schwarzbrote: 10 Groschen, 6 Pfennig 6 Becher Kartoffeln: 11 Groschen 1 ½ Pfund Butter: 9 Groschen 3/4 Pfund Kaffee: 5 Groschen 3 Pfund Mehl: 3 Groschen 6 Pfennig 2 Portionen Gemüse: 3 Groschen Around 1850: 1 »Maaß« Bier kostete 4 Kreuzer (= 16 Pfennige). Ein Haushalt mit fünf Personen verbrauchte pro Woche durchschnittlich 3½ Taler. http://militaria-fundforum.de/archive/index.php/t-78002.html Best regards, René Granacher Von: baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com] Im Auftrag von Teva Scheer Gesendet: Dienstag, 2. Dezember 2008 18:23 An: baden-wurttemberg@rootsweb.com Betreff: [BW] German money values Dear List Members, I'm writing a short piece on money and other measures which were used in Germany, particularly in Baden and Württemberg, during the early modern period (late 1500s to the early 1800s). There were many types of coins and coinage systems in existence in Baden and Württemberg during that period, but the most common seemed to be the Gulden (also called the Florin). In general, each Gulden was worth 60 Kreuzer, which was a small coin imprinted with a cross. Each Kreuzer was worth 4 Pfennige (pennies) or 8 Heller. Of course, those facts don't tell us the value of these coins. I have looked in vain, through many books and Internet sites, to find examples of what the coins bought during the early modern period. What did a cow cost? Or a wagon? What did a blacksmith charge to shoe a horse, or a shoemaker for a pair of shoes? How much did a common laborer earn for a day's work? Can any of you help me to come up with some examples? If so, I would also need your sources, i.e., where you found your examples. Thanks in advance, Teva Scheer ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BADEN-WURTTEMBERG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Sitz der Gesellschaft / Corporate Headquarters: Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft, Koeln, Registereintragung / Registration: Amtsgericht Koeln HR B 2168 Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats / Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dipl.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Juergen Weber Vorstand / Executive Board: Wolfgang Mayrhuber (Vorsitzender / Chairman), Stephan Gemkow, Stefan Lauer ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BADEN-WURTTEMBERG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Teva, There are scattered references to currency values in the secondary literature. For example Gottlieb Mittelberger, in "Journey to Pennsylvania" (Belknap Press, 1960), mentions the cost of passage from Württemberg to Pennsylvania in 1750 (p. 17). He also gives the value of various Philadelphia foodstuffs, eggs, hens, etc. in German currency (49-50, 66-67). Mittelberger adds "The English know little or nothing about eating soup." The cost of the trip down the Rhine is discussed in "Pennsylvania German Immigrants," Don Yoder, ed. (Geneal. Pub'l Co., 1980) p. 178. Winthrop Pickard Bell, in "Foreign Protestants and the Settlement of Nova Scotia" (Univ. Toronto Press, 1961), discusses transatlantic fares and currency ratios, p. 260-3. Also there is a short list of land & livestock values in H. G. Roeber, "Palatines, Liberty and Property" (John Hopkins Univ. Press, 1993) p. 106-7. Finally, I have made a few references in my book, "The Search for Heinrich Stief" (Nimbus, 2001). Good luck ! ~Les Bowser