Lost wallet turns up after 50 years

AP ^ | April 28, 2002 | AP

[Cultural Jihad]

PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) - A San Francisco police officer who works at the same station his grandfather once did more than 50 years ago got an unusual package in the mail last week.

It was his grandfather's wallet - complete with identification, business cards and $60.

[Izzy Dunne]

The letter ends: "P.S. There were $60 in bills in the wallet. Please find a check enclosed."

Is that a check for 2002 dollars or for 1951 dollars?

[GretchenEE]

bump

[JZoback]

He kept a log of trip expenses: gas $3, eats 90 cents, room $4.

That amount just might buy lunch today

[nmh]

Refreshing! Honesty and not stealing never goes out of style but is becoming increasingly rare to see in action. The norm for today is be irresponsible, dishonest and to take whatever you can to benefit yourself.

[JCG]

Is that a check for 2002 dollars or for 1951 dollars?

LOL! You had to ask.

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[OldFriend]

Never too late to do the right thing!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Assuming it was 1951, how much would the interest be on the $60 which I bet was not included? Anway, it's still a feel good article.

[martin_fierro]

Assuming it was 1951, how much would the interest be on the $60 which I bet was not included?

Assuming $60 initial value, an annual interest rate of 5%, and 50 years to compound the investment (one payment), present value of the $60 is $688.05.

[FiddlePig]

Is that a check for 2002 dollars or for 1951 dollars?
Hmmm... $60 in 1951 money would probably be Silver Certificates and REAL silver coins, now worth much more than today's crappy Federal Reserve Notes. Pretty good reward for the finder, even after writing the $60 (2002) check!

[Cultural Jihad]

Do you suppose they were Silver Certificates? The story isn't really clear on why the finder was sending a check rather than the original bills. Even so, a good samaritan, however procrastinating, is not in the savings and loan business.

[Atilla_the_Hun]

For the young bucks...

What cost $60 in 1951 would cost $424.62 in 2001....

Reference: The pre-1975 data are the Consumer Price Index statistics from
Historical Statistics of the United States (USGPO, 1975). All data since
then are from the annual Statistical Abstracts of the United States.

Calculator

[Cultural Jihad]

John Payne II is prolly more thrilled with the personal effects of his gandfather he barely knew than in the personal interest.

[Bob J]

What, no interest?

[vikingchick]

bttt

[Sawdring]

Exactly what I was thinking. At least the old currency would have been worth a little extra if it was the original bills from the era.