A series of currency reforms took place between the late 1600s (Spain), between 1702-1717 (England) and 1709 Holy Roman Empire (Germany and Austria).
We can use these contemporary sources to calculate coin values in terms of Spanish dollars at the British standard value of 4s/6d or 54d. This works out to $4.44 to a pound.
Later, when the US began minting its own dollars, the British considered them equal to the Spanish.
SECONDARY SOURCE
ENGLAND
DOLLARS
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
DOLLARS
The ratios of pence to In 1978, John J.
dollars and pence to McCusker published
A Spanish Dollar
In 1709 a currency reform convention was held
kreutzers determines the values of a
In 1702 [except as noted], Sir Isaac
was officially worth in Nuremberg, and published in "Cambio
the approx. value of number of coins,
Newton calculated the value of gold
54d, its silver
Mercatorio" by Georg Heinrich Paritio.
kreutzers to dollars. based on Newton,
coins at the "Goldsmith's value" of £4 Silver value, not content verified by
Variations are due to
bank exchange rates
(960d) per troy oz. (31.1 grams) rather
Newton as 53.88d. A Thaler coin was 1/9 Koln-Marck of silver, about Newton's actual silver value
and other primary
exchange rate, at (See below.) At that 99¢ based on the average prices in London during
than the British "standard value" of
vs the German standard
sources.
4£ sterling per oz rate 1d = 1.85¢
£3.19s.8!d
these years, given by McCusker.
exchange rate.
McCusker (given in
S.
D.
Official value at
Kreutzer to Dollars
hundredths of a
[Shillings [Pence] Pence (d) to Dollars GOLD COINS
GOLD MONIES — UNWORN.
60 Kreutzer (kr)
1d = 1.85¢
Kreutzer to cents/pence pound) to Dollars
= Gulden (fl.)
=12 pence]
£ 1 = $4.44
Eine Frantzösische Duplone
7. fl. 4. kr. 424 kr = $3.83
The Lewid'or
17
2.8 206.8d = $3.83
£ .86 = $3.82
1 kr = .9¢ /.49d
Eine Spanische Duplone
7. fl. 4. kr 424 kr = $3.83
The Spanish Pistole
17
2.8 206.8d = $3.83
£ .86 = $3.82
1 kr = .9¢ /.49d
The Moeda of Portugal
27
5.1 329.1d = $6.09
£ 1.37 = $6.08
Eine Romanische . . .
6. fl. 55. kr 415 kr = $3.73
The old Italian Pistole
16
9.5 201.5d = $3.73
1 kr = .9¢ /.485d
[Duplone]
The Sequin Chequin or Zacksen of
Venice
9
9.1 117.1d = $2.17
The Hungary Ducat
9
6.7 114.7d = $2.12
The Ducat of Holland coynes ad
legem Imperii
9
6.3 114.3d = $2.11
The Ducat of Campen in Holland
9
6.3 114.3d = $2.11
The Ducat of the Bishop of
Bameberg
9
6.7 114.7d = $2.12
The Ducat of Danemark
9
6.3 114.3d = $2.11
20
7.5 248d = $4.59
(officially $4.66)
Guinea [trading in Holland & Germany in
1711]
THE VALUE OF SEVERAL
FOREIGN SILVER-COYNS —
COYNS UNWORN.
The Ecu of France or Piece of 60
sols. Turnois
The three-Guilder piece of Holland
or piece of 60 styvers
The Ducaton of Holland or piece of
63 Styvers
The Patagon or Rix doller of
Holland or piece of 50 Styvers
The 10-schelling piece of Zeland, or
piece of 60 styvers
The Lyon Doller of Holland or of
the Ducaton
The Ducaton of Flanders or pieces
of 60 sols or Patars
The Patagon or cross Doller of
Flanders or piece of 48 Patars
Ein ordinari Reichs-Ducaten,
wie obstehet
£ .48 = $2.13
£ .48 = $2.13
Ein ordinari Reichs-Ducaten,
wie obstehet
Ein Englischer Jacobiner oder
Caroliner
54.13
The New Sevil piece of eight
[new plate, 20% less silver, alloy]
The Crusado of Portugal of 400
Res now raised to 480
An Escuti or Ecu of Rome or piece
of 10 Julios 1684
The Croisat of Genoa or piece of
7! lires
A Crusat of St. Mark of Venice
with the numb. 140 upon it
The Rixdoller of the last Emperor
Ferdinand III
The Rixdoller of the present
Emperor Leopold
The Rixdoller of Sigismund III. &
Vladislaus IIII. Kings of Poland
The Rixdoller of Ferdinand
Archduke of Austria
£ .27 = $1.20
$0.97
Holländisch Thaler
1. fl. 56. kr 116 kr = $0.97
1 kr = .84¢ /.45d
£ .22 = 98 ¢
$1.15
Holländische Ducatons
2. fl. 20. kr. 140 kr = $1.16
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
62.21
$0.81
£ .18 = 80¢
43.7
Niederländische Ducatons
2. fl. 20. kr. 140 kr = $1.22
1 kr = .87¢
$1.21
Chur-Cöllnische Ducatons
$0.97
Chur-Cöllnisch Thaler
2. fl. 20. kr 140 kr = $1.21
1 kr = .86¢ /.46d
1. fl. 56. kr 116 kr = 97¢
1 kr = .84¢ /.45d
$1.22
66.15
$0.98
52.91
52.53
99.6¢
80¢
43.11 1 kr = .42d
63 ¢
34.31
Ein Spanische Matten
1. fl. 42. kr 102 kr = 80¢
1 kr = .78¢ /.42d
£ .14 = 62 ¢
Romanische Silber-Cronen
2. fl. 15. kr 135 kr = $1.15 at
1 kr = .85 ¢
$1.46
Genueser Cronen
2. fl. 46. kr 166 kr = $1.46
1 kr = .88¢ /.47d
[140 soldi or 7 lire]
Venetianische Silber-Cronen
$1.04
Alle …Chur- und Fürstliche,
auch Gräfliche und Städtische
Thaler
...
78.74
...
2. fl. 20. k 140 kr = $1.21 at
1 kr = .86¢
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.04
1 kr = .87¢ /.47d
60 ¢
£ .14 = 62 ¢
32.23
60 ¢
£ .14 = 62 ¢
32.45
$1.00
Alle Kayserliche … Thaler
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.00
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
$1.00
Alle Kayserliche … Thaler
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.00
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
$1.01
Polnische Thaler
$0.99
Alle Kayserliche … Thaler
2. fl. 120 kr = $.99
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
$1.02
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.02
1 kr = .85¢ /.46d
$1.00
Alle …Chur- und Fürstliche,
auch Gräfliche und Städtische
Thaler
Polnische Thaler
99.6¢
Polnische Thaler
$1.03
Alle …Chur- und Fürstliche,
auch Gräfliche und Städtische
Thaler
Alle … Gräfliche und
Städtische Thaler
Alle … Gräfliche und
Städtische Thaler
Alle … Gräfliche und
Städtische Thaler
54.27
54.27
54.4
53.78
54.27
53.85
$1.02
The old Rixdoller of Hanover
55.3
$1.01
The old Rixdoller of Lunenburg
54.65
$1.02
55.17
$1.03
The old Rixdoller of Lubec
55.52
60 $1.11
18.3¢
9.917
[Spanish Real, new plate]
Holland … Guilder or Floren [1701]
£ .22 = 98 ¢
53.88
55.55
English Crown
Spanish piece of money of two Ryalls,
[assayed in 1711]
£ .23 = $1.02
2. fl. 20. kr. 140 kr = $1.21
1 kr = .86¢ /.47d
52.28
The old Rixdoller of Nuremburg
The old Rixdoller of the Elector of
Brandenburg
1. fl. 57. kr 117 kr = $1.00
1 kr = .85¢ /.46d
£ 1 = $4.44
Holländische Ducatons
54.92
The old Rixdoller of Thorne neare
Dantzick
60 kr. = 1 fl.
$1.21
65.59
The old Banck Doller of
Hamborough
The old Rixdoller of Dantzick
Official value at
60 Kreutzer (kr) Kreutzer to Dollars
= Gulden (fl.)
Kreutzer to cents/pence
2. fl. 20. kr. 140 kr = $1.16
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
56.29
The four Mark piece of Danemark
of finer allay
£ 1.03 = $4.57
Holländische Ducatons
62.46
The double Gulden of the Elector
of Hanover
The four Mark piece of Danemark
of coarse allay
9. fl. 30. kr 570 kr = $4.59 ($4.66)
1 kr = .8¢ (.82¢) /.44d
$1.16
65.2
The Piastre of Spain or Sevil piece
of 8 Reaus now raised to 10
4. fl. — 240 kr = $2.11
1 kr = .83¢ /.476d
£ .48 = $2.13
Silver value, not
exchange rate, Pence (d) to Dollars SILVER COINS
in Pence
1d = 1.85¢
D.
Alle Frantzösische Thaler
$1.00
The Ducaton of Cologn
The Doller of Cologn
4. fl. — 240 kr = $2.12
1 kr = .88¢ /.476d
38.5¢
20.82 1 kr = .58d
22.2¢
12 1 kr = .5d
11¢
6 1 kr = .5d
1. fl. 56. kr 116 kr = $1.01
1 kr = .87¢ /.47d
£ .23 = $1.02
1. fl. 56. kr 116 kr = $1.00
1 kr = .86¢ /.47d
1. fl. 56. kr 116 kr = $1.00
1 kr = .86¢ /.46d
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.03
1 kr = .86¢ /.46d
Alle … Gräfliche und
Städtische Thaler
[Marck] Hamburgische,
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.02
1 kr = .85¢ /.46d
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.01
1 kr = .84¢ /.46d
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.02
1 kr = .85¢ /.46d
2. fl. 120 kr = $1.03
1 kr = .86¢ /.46d
30 kr 26 ¢ @ 1kr = .85¢
Franc oder Livre
30 kr 26 ¢ @ 1kr = .85¢
£ .25 = $1.11
Ein [Spanische Matten]
Kopffstück, gewichtig
Ein [Spanische Matten] halbes
Kopffstück
Gulden Holländische
22. kr 18.3¢
1 kr = .83¢ /.45d
11. kr 9¢ @ 1 kr = .83¢
36. kr 38.5¢
1 kr = 1.07¢
24. kr 22.2¢
1 kr = .93¢
12. kr. 11¢
1 kr = .93¢
£ .09 = 40 ¢
Ein Englisch gewichtiges
£ .05 = 22.2 ¢
Kopffstück
Ein [Englisches] halbes
[six pence]
Kopffstück
NOTE: Newton referred to silver coins based on the Imperial (Reichs) species thalers as "Rixdollars". He called the Reichsthaler money of account which was standard, or common,
throughout the empire the "common dollar".
[Shilling]