> Subject: Re: [FOLKS] Re: Foreign Coins > Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 23:48:25 -0500 > From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > David explained: > > > Because the early US Mint had a lot of trouble providing enough US money > > and because of our extensive trade with Canada and Mexico, foreign coins > > were legal tender in the US until 1857. There were many books published > > at the time that listed the various foreign moneys a bank or store clerk > > might encounter and tables showing how to turn English pounds into > > Spanish reales or Portuguese "Joes". It was not uncommon for businesses > > of the 1850s to keep their accounts in pounds or reales, depending on > > where they were located. I remember as a child being shown well worn > > Spanish pieces of eight that my great-great grandfather supposedly > > received in trade at this grocery store in Lewiston in the mid to late > > 19th century (alas they have long since disappeared). > > > > So it's not the least bit unusual that Phoebe would still be referring > > to English money in 1860, especially if she had been born there. Anyone > > living in Niagara county in the 1850's would have come across a lot of > > English money in trade (Canada didn't get their own dollar until 1858), > > since Canada was still part of the British empire at the time. > > WOW, David, thanks for such a thorough explanation of the continuing > exchange of foreign coins well into the mid 1800s. And here I thought I > knew everything! :-) > vee Vee and Kim, It was my pleasure to finally be able to contribute something after learning so much from other people. David