What is the relative value of Bob Cratchit’s 15 shillings a week in 1843? – MeasuringWorth (2024)

In Charles DickensA Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge paid his clerk Bob Cratchit 15 shillings a week. What is the present-day equivalent of those 15 shillings? The MeasuringWorth comparator gives two answers.

In 2020, thereal wagevalue of 15 shillings from 1843 is £75.28.
In 2020, therelative labour earningsvalue of 15 shillings from 1843 is £611.30

Why are they so different and what do they mean? The reason is that they are answers to two quite different questions. While they are both measured in British pounds, they should NOT be compared to each other.

The real wage is computed using a retail consumer price index of a basket of goods and services. In principle, by inflating the collection of goods (e.g., a goose) the average family could buy with 15 shillings, the index says that would be similar to a collection of goods an average family in today’s London could buy with £75.28. This is a totally unrealistic number!

Today a family of six could not afford the groceries to make a Christmas dinner for £75.28, let alone live for week. If we assume that Cratchit worked 10 hours a day for six days each week, that £75.28 rate would be £1.26 an hour. The current national minimum or living wage rate in the UK is £8.91 per hour. Even for workers under the age of 18 it is £4.60.

Price indexes do not reflect the actual increases in the cost of living over long periods of time because the market baskets purchased by representative consumers have changed so much. For example, food purchases constituted roughly 50% of the index in the 1840s; food is less than 10% today.* The Cratchits could not have purchased most of the goods in today’s basket because they didn’t exist in 1843.

The relative labour earnings is computed using an index of average earnings paid to workers. Thus, the “relative” wage of a worker who earned 15 shillings a week in 1843 is £611.30 today. At 52 weeks of work, that would correspond to about £32,000 a year. Bob Cratchit was responsible for maintaining Scrooge’s account books. The average UK accountant today earns a salary of £62,042 per year; the average bookkeeper, £26,848 per year. While Cratchit’s job may not have required a CPA, it involved much more than the tasks required of the average bookkeeper today. The fact Scrooge was paying Cratchit an amount slightly above that of an average bookkeeper speaks to Scrooge’s miserliness.

*The CPI and RPI are better designed to compute inflation rates than the “cost of living” over long periods on time.

What is the relative value of Bob Cratchit’s 15 shillings a week in 1843? – MeasuringWorth (2024)

FAQs

What was the value of 15 shillings in 1843? ›

The relative labour earnings is computed using an index of average earnings paid to workers. Thus, the “relative” wage of a worker who earned 15 shillings a week in 1843 is £611.30 today. At 52 weeks of work, that would correspond to about £32,000 a year.

How much was 15 shillings worth in A Christmas Carol? ›

"Time for your annual reminder that, according to A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit makes 15 shillings a week. Adjusted for inflation, that's $530.27/wk, $27,574/yr, or $13.50/hr. "Most Americans on minimum wage earn less than a Dickensian allegory for destitution."

How much money did Bob Cratchit make a week? ›

“Bob Cratchit was paid, according to 'A Christmas Carol,' 15 shillings a week. The average clerk in an accounting house was paid 11 shillings, 6 pence a week.” So, although Dickens portrays the Cratchit family as poor, de Mesquita says just compare Scrooge's lifestyle with Cratchit's.

How much is 15 bob worth? ›

15 Dobbscoin is 0.794002 US Dollar.

How much was money worth in 1843? ›

The U.S. dollar has lost 98% its value since 1843

$100 in 1843 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4,023.12 today, an increase of $3,923.12 over 179 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.09% per year between 1843 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 3,923.12%.

How much is a bob worth today? ›

In today's decimal currency, a shilling or "bob" would be worth 5 pence.

How much did A Christmas Carol sell for in 1843? ›

When A Christmas Carol appeared on December 19, 1843, it cost a whopping 5 shillings—about $33 in today's money. But the book was well received. Its initial print run of more than 6,000 copies sold out in just a week, and Dickens' reputation was revived.

How much was half a crown worth in 1843? ›

The Tower Mint in London struck 455,000 half crowns in 1843, the year Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. Each showed a young Queen Victoria on the obverse. The half crown (2 shillings, 6 pence) was the equivalent of about 60 cents in U.S. coin at the time.

How much was a Bob in old money? ›

How much is a bob in old money? A 'bob' was the slang word for a Shilling, which was worth 12 old pennies. Following decimilisation in 1971, a Shilling was worth 5 new pence. The old 'ten bob note' (10 shillings) was the equivalent of 5 Florins, or 4 Half Crowns, or 2 Crowns.

How much would 15 bob a week be today? ›

Adjusted for inflation through their calculator from 1843 (the year of A Christmas Carol) to 2020 is 5,067.37 pounds. Converted to dollars at today's exchange rate, that's $6,712.11.

How much is a shilling in Scrooge? ›

First, a glossary. In Scrooge's time (and when I was young), the British pound (£) was divided into 20 shillings (s). Each shilling was of 12 pennies (d) and there were therefore 240d to the £.

How much is 10 bob? ›

The Bank of England 10 shilling note (notation: 10/–), colloquially known as the 10 bob note was a sterling banknote. Ten shillings in £sd (written 10s or 10/–) was half of one pound.

How much is a shilling worth today? ›

A pound was worth twenty shillings and each shilling was worth a dozen pennies. Today, a shilling from Churchill's England has the purchasing equivalent of 5 pence in the decimal currency system.

How much is a shilling worth in 1800? ›

For most of the 1800s a shilling was approximately a day's wage for a labouring man.

How much is a bob in us dollars? ›

1 BOB = 0.9997 USD.

How much was $15 worth in the 1800s? ›

$15 in 1800 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $354.78 today, an increase of $339.78 over 222 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 1.44% per year between 1800 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 2,265.17%.

How much was $15 1840? ›

$15 in 1840 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $513.81 today, an increase of $498.81 over 182 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 1.96% per year between 1840 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 3,325.43%.

How much was $15 worth in 1865? ›

$15 in 1865 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $273.97 today, an increase of $258.97 over 157 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 1.87% per year between 1865 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 1,726.45%.

How much is 10 bob in English money? ›

A £1 coin was called a Sovereign and was made of gold. A paper pound often was called a quid.
...
More than a Shilling (s. or /- )
a florin (a two shillings or 2 bob or 2 bob bit)10 x 2/- = £1
a half-sovereign (ten shillings or 10 bob)2 x 10/- = £1
3 more rows

How much is 20 shillings worth today? ›

20 Shilling is 0.356882 US Dollar.

So, you've converted 20 Shilling to 0.356882 US Dollar.

How much is 2 bobs worth? ›

The use of two bob for a 20-cent coin derives from the equivalence of two shillings for 20 cents for the purpose of conversion during decimalisation (in 1966); since then, the term has slowly dropped out of usage and it is seldom used today.

How was Christmas observed 1843? ›

“Christmas” was a twelve-day festival taking place in the manor of the local “lord,” and included the burning of the Yule log, playing traditional games, and feasting on traditional foods.

How many copies of A Christmas Carol were sold before Christmas Eve 1843 the first year it was published? ›

The first edition of 6,000 copies had sold out by Christmas Eve. By 2 January, a second edition of 3,000 had been issued. 'Hurrah, say I,' Dickens wrote.

How was Christmas celebrated 1843? ›

Soon every home in Britain had a tree bedecked with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts. In 1843 Henry Cole commissioned an artist to design a card for Christmas. The illustration showed a group of people around a dinner table and a Christmas message.

What was 1 crown worth? ›

The British crown was a denomination of sterling coinage worth 14 of one pound, or 5 shillings, or 60 (old) pence.

How much was a crown worth in the 1800s? ›

These coins were first minted in 1817 as a response to the rather uncertain value of earlier gold coins. Both were current throughout Victoria's reign. A crown was a silver coin worth 5s - though much more common was the half-crown worth 2/6 or exactly one eighth of a pound.

How much was a shilling worth in US dollars? ›

After the United States adopted the dollar as its unit of currency and accepted the gold standard, one British shilling was worth 24 US cents.

What was 2 bob in old money? ›

6d (six pence) known as a "tanner" or half a shilling. 2/– (two shillings, or one florin, colloquially "two-bob bit") 2/6 (two shillings and six pence, usually said as "two and six" or a "half-crown"; the value could also be spoken as "half a crown", but the coin was always a half-crown)

How much are old shillings worth? ›

The shilling prior to 1920 contains 0.1682 oz of silver, and this gives a bullion value of about £2.22 or US$2.78. Shillings from the period 1920 to 1946 contain 0.0909 oz of silver and thus have a bullion value of £1.20 or US$1.50.

How much is 2 shillings worth today? ›

The coin of two shillings is also known as a 'florin' or a 'two-bob bit'. This cupronickel coin has the same value as a modern 10p coin: It is the equivalent of 1/10 of a Pound Sterling.

How many hours did Bob Cratchit work a week? ›

Bob works six days a week, for at least eight hours a day. Yes, Scrooge reluctantly gives Bob Christmas day off, but, for our purposes, we will assume no days off but Sundays. For the first 40 hours of the week, Bob is entitled to at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, or $290.

How much is 15 an hour 32 hours a week? ›

$15 hourly is how much per week? If you make $15 per hour, your Weekly salary would be $600.

How much was 15$ 1934? ›

$15 in 1934 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $333.60 today, an increase of $318.60 over 88 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.59% per year between 1934 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 2,123.97%.

How many shillings were in 1? ›

Until 1971, British money was divided up into pounds, shillings and pence. One pound was divided into 20 shillings. One shilling was divided into 12 pennies. One penny was divided into two halfpennies, or four farthings.

What is 10 shillings in old money? ›

They were real silver before 1920. There was also a crown coin which the Royal Mint issued on special occasions. For larger amounts, there were banknotes. There was a ten shilling note (worth 50p in decimal) £1, £5 and £10 notes.

How much is 5 bob worth today? ›

'5 bob' was slang for 5 shillings. The shilling no longer exists post decimalisation, in a world where people apparently can't divide by twelve, and '5 bob' would now be equivalent to 25p.

Why is money called a bob? ›

Bob – The subject of great debate, as the origins of this nickname are unclear although we do know that usage of bob for shilling dates back to the late 1700s. Brewer's 1870 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable states that 'bob' could be derived from 'Bawbee', which was 16-19th century slang for a half-penny.

What is the equivalent of 10 shillings today? ›

Hypothetically, if you took the book into a branch today it's unlikely they'd give you that much, thanks to the process of decimalisation in 1971. Because in old money it was 20 shillings to the pound, in 1971 following conversion 10 shillings was likely converted into 50p.

How long is a 10 bob? ›

10-Inch Bob Wig

10 inches would be a slightly longer length than 8 inches. It is not as short as the 8-inch wig, which looks cold and exaggerated, nor does it look as mature as the 14-inch wig. Its length may just reach the neck - if you are taller - or it may be shoulder length - if you are shorter.

How much was a shilling worth in Victorian times? ›

1 shilling (1s.), was 12 pence. Also often known as a 'bob', as in "I paid six bob for this", Thus there were 240 pence (20 x 12) to every pound.

Are there 20 shillings in a pound? ›

Shilling (s) – 20 shillings = 1 pound. Pence (d) – 12 pence = 1 shilling. 240 pence = 1 pound.

What was 21 shillings called? ›

In each case a guinea meant an amount of one pound and one shilling (21 shillings, £1.05 in decimal notation).

How much was a shilling worth in the 1700s? ›

Although a British shilling was about ¼ of a dollar in silver, the value "One Eighth of a Dollar" is clearly printed on this 1776 Colonial New York one shilling note. Image courtesy of the Coin and Currency Collections at Notre Dame.

Is bob a word for money? ›

In parts of the US 'bob' was slang used for the US dollar coin.

How much is 4 shillings in us dollars? ›

4 Shilling = 0.067832 US Dollar (USD)

How many dollars is 3000sh? ›

3000 Shilling = 52.231140 US Dollar (USD)

What was 10 shillings worth? ›

Ten shillings was a subdivision of the pre-decimal Irish pound, worth 1⁄2 of an Irish pound, making this the highest-value coin in the pre-decimal system. The coin was 83.1/3% silver and 16.2/3% copper.

How much was a shilling worth in 1830? ›

1830 Shilling is 33.009701 US Dollar.

So, you've converted 1830 Shilling to 33.009701 US Dollar. We used 55.438248 International Currency Exchange Rate.

How much was a shilling worth now? ›

A pound was worth twenty shillings and each shilling was worth a dozen pennies. Today, a shilling from Churchill's England has the purchasing equivalent of 5 pence in the decimal currency system.

What was a shilling worth in 1800? ›

For most of the 1800s a shilling was approximately a day's wage for a labouring man.

How much was a bob in old money? ›

How much is a bob in old money? A 'bob' was the slang word for a Shilling, which was worth 12 old pennies. Following decimilisation in 1971, a Shilling was worth 5 new pence. The old 'ten bob note' (10 shillings) was the equivalent of 5 Florins, or 4 Half Crowns, or 2 Crowns.

What is 1 shilling now? ›

They were withdrawn from circulation in 1970. The British one shilling predecimal coin has the same value as a modern 5p coin. It is the equivalent of 1/20 of a Pound Sterling.

How much would five shillings be worth today? ›

Using inflation, 5 shillings (25p) is a little more than £20 in today's values, but measured by the increase in average earnings it's more like £112 - slightly more than the current Basic state pension of £102.15 without the earnings related bits that may get added.

How much is a shilling in the olden days? ›

1 shilling equalled twelve pence (12d). There were 240 pennies to a pound because originally 240 silver penny coins weighed 1 pound (1lb). A sum of £3 12s 6d was normally written as £3-12-6, but a sum of 12s 6d was normally recorded as 12/6. 10/- meaning ten shillings.

What would 2 shillings be worth today? ›

The 2 Shilling coin was more commonly known as a florin, and is generally regarded as the first pre-decimal coin to be issued in the mid-nineteenth century. With a value of one-tenth of a pound sterling, it is the exact equivalent to the current ten pence coin.

How much is a shilling in Christmas carol? ›

First, a glossary. In Scrooge's time (and when I was young), the British pound (£) was divided into 20 shillings (s). Each shilling was of 12 pennies (d) and there were therefore 240d to the £.

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