bleak vision of the future, where the gap between rich and poor has grown beyond measure." The character has been featured in the musical comedy Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge. Early Victorian Money The British Pound was fixed at $4.85 USD until 1915. Since 1971 the Pound is floating and in Dec 2022 $1.22. Web site "https://www.in2013dollars.com/" denotes UK inflation is 150 from 1843 to 2022. Unknown if this calculator takes into account the exchange rate affecting purchasing power. Pay: It is remarked by Scrooge that he pays 1/2 crown (2.5 shillings, 30 Pence) a day, 6 days a week. That translated to 39 pounds a year. Most clerks make a bit less (2 Bob a day) so Scrooge is paying his as a senior Clerk). Buying power: 1843 coins and their value is HOTLY debated. A gold Pound (Sovereign) today from 1843 has melt value of $425 in gold and cost about $600 to purchase and a US $5 gold coin slightly higher value ($4.85 USD buys a gold pound). Roughly, 600 times the prices of 1843 to equal current values. If a gold pound is today $600... then a penny is $2.50 USD and a shilling is $30. A 1843 Shilling (12 pence) is about $30 in buying power and 240 Pence = 1 pound. Roughly translates to $23,400 today (2022) and poverty pay and barely middle class. Dickens quotes often prices and pay of characters in his stories and about 100 pounds a year is required for a moderate middle class life with servants. 500+ for comfortable living as a gentleman. Generally, people's salaries in Victorian England were very low compared to current income. References Literary characters introduced in 1843 A Christmas Carol characters Fictional people from London Fictional clerks Fictional people from the 19th-century Male characters in film Male characters in literature