Daily AncestorWhat was a dollar worth in the 1850s?
One dollar in the 1850s bought about what $34.55 to $38.70 bought in 2025, depending on the year.
The table compares consumer prices only: what an amount from a will, an inventory, a land sale or a pension from the 1850s would buy in 2025. It does not compare wages, land values or how rich someone was. Price indexes before 1913 are historians' estimates, so treat the figures as a rough guide.
| Year | $1 then, in 2025 dollars | $100 then, in 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | $38.70 | $3,870 |
| 1851 | $38.70 | $3,870 |
| 1852 | $38.70 | $3,870 |
| 1853 | $38.70 | $3,870 |
| 1854 | $35.83 | $3,583 |
| 1855 | $34.55 | $3,455 |
| 1856 | $35.83 | $3,583 |
| 1857 | $34.55 | $3,455 |
| 1858 | $37.21 | $3,721 |
| 1859 | $35.83 | $3,583 |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Consumer Price Index 1800 onward (annual averages).