I would like to know how much 8,700 French francs paid in 1890 would
be worth today - preferably in Australian dollars, please.

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Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 30 Jan 2004 12:36 PST

lynnes --

This calculation could be done in two different ways with somewhat
different results because of differing historic inflation rates in
France and Australia:

1.  Determine the value of 8700 1890 francs in current euros and then
convert that amount to Australian dollars using the current exchange
rate, or;

2.  Convert 8700 1890 francs to 1890 Australian dollars (probably a
more difficult research problem) and then determine the value of those
1890 dollars in current Australian dollars.

For the benefit of researchers interested in answering your question,
it would be useful to know if you have a preference.

markj-ga

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Clarification of Question by lynnes-ga on 30 Jan 2004 13:48 PST

Mark,

I really am not sure but I'll tell you what I need this for.  I'm
writing an audio tour for an art exhibition on the Edwardians. One of
the items I have to write about is a cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba
in an opera. She paid 8,700 francs for it, and I'd like to give a
loose idea of what sort of money that was. I have worked out that it's
over A$2,000 in today's money - a lot in anyone's era - but far more
surprising, I'd imagine, in 1890.

I'll leave it to you to judge.

Thanks,
Lynne