Kind of morbid...

mojorizn

Is anyone interested in British coins (farthings to shillings) from the Jack the Ripper years?

After reading the Patricia Cornwell book where she "exposes" the real culprit based on modern forensics and deduction methods, I have become very interested in the coinage of this time period.

Apparently, prostitutes could be had in the late 1880's for as little as a farthing in the Whitechapel area. This was considered the slums of London at the time. Most of the Ripper's victims were estranged wives who received allowances from their husbands and turned to prostitution to make ends meet. The rooms these ladies resided in were rented weekly or nightly. Two or three shillings would secure the residence for a week or more.

I know it's probably a morbid pursuit, but the farthings, halfpence, pence, and shillings from the years 1887-1889 hold a fascination for me. These are the coins these "unfortunates" used in daily life.

Mojo

MacCrimmon

Cost of Living in 1888 Victorian England

You might find that the vast majority of the "masses" would fall under the "unfortunate" column.

There are several other useful links which spin of the linked page.....have fun.


P.S. The £2 below never passed through the hands of any of the Ripper's victims.....why, you ask? There's no blood on it.

mojorizn

Very interesting! Add in the fact that 4 of the 6 traditional victims were obese, and you can deduce where the money from their weekly allowances were going. All of the victims were found in tattered, heavily mended clothing, though well fed. Apparently their wages were going almost exclusively to securing lodging.

According to Cornwell, boarding houses in the Whitechapel area were little more than hovels with a bed and washstand. 1 or 2 shillings would reserve these for at least a week. 12d to a shilling, a farthing to a 1/2d per John, 24 to 48 "clients" per weeks rent...

Mojo

Hussulo

Who did Patricia Cornwell "expose" as being the real culprit?

JRC

I don’t think it’s a morbid pursuit.
If that’s what interests you, go for it.

Sapyx

<< <i>Who did Patricia Cornwell "expose" as being the real culprit? >>


Assuming she hasn't changed her theory lately with a new book, it's the artist Walter Sickert. The list of Jack the Ripper suspects on Wikipedia has over two dozen other people, all of whom seem to have have their adherents and detractors.

As for the collecting theme... sure, why not? I can't say it's ever occurred to me before.

WillieBoyd2

Vicky did it!

dcamp78

I would suggest that anyone that has any interest in Jack The Ripper watch the movie 'From Hell'.
You'll never guess who gets the blame...