The famous "$24 for Manhattan" is a 19th-century conversion.
In 1626 the Dutch handed over goods worth 60 guilders; a historian turned that into dollars in 1846.
More amazing facts
- 1620 The Mayflower Pilgrims hurried ashore at Plymouth partly because of beer.
- 1620 The Mayflower Pilgrims did not wear black with buckled hats.
- 1624 · 1643 The wig craze began with a bald patch.
- 1625 · 1662 One of the most accurate pictures of a dodo was painted at the Mughal court.
- 1628 · 1961 The Swedish warship Vasa sank in 1628 about 1,300 metres into her maiden voyage.
- 1632 · 1635 Shah Jahan's throne reportedly cost twice as much as the Taj Mahal.