Hi Nora, From: "Nora Probasco" <[email protected]> To: "Dutch Colonies" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 3:48 PM Subject: [DUTCH-COLONIES] Question > Would an amount of one hundred and thirty carolus guldens be considered a > large amount in 1654? > > Nora I assume "carolus gulden" is the same as a Carolus guilder. The Carolus guilder was equal to 1.5 regular guilders. So, your 130 would be about 200 guilders = 200 florins. I think the best way to compare money amounts over a long time span, is to look at how long a person would have to work to earn that much. William Hoffman in Random Notes Concerning Settlers of Dutch Descent in TAG vol 29, pp. 65 -76 shows that a farm hands earned about 100 to 150 guilders per year. If you scan down the notarial records in NNC vol 5 you will see that this is a very good estimate. I see many men contracting to work for about 120 guilders per year. You can also look at prices. Hoffman has that a mare cost 200 gl. Regards, Howard [email protected]