Greetings all, In researching my own genealogy in the Duchy of Bremen, I discovered my great-great grandfather sold his share of the family property for silver thalers in 1854. At that time the silver thaler was worth about the same amount as the American silver dollar. They both weighed about one ounce. If we calculate the value based on the present silver value ($18.42), the 45 thaler trip would cost $828.90 and the 1500 thaler farm would be worth $27,630 -- still a bargain! Richard WredeWoodbury, NJ USA