953 nut 64,707 #1 Posted February 13 February 13, 1866 Jesse James robs his first bank, stealing $15,000 from the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri. 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 55,754 #2 Posted February 13 Lotta coin back then. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 31,356 #3 Posted February 13 $15,000 in 1886 is equivalent in purchasing power to approximately $517,216 in 2026, 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 20,078 #4 Posted February 13 Guess Willie Sutton was right "I rob banks because that's where the money is" 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 55,754 #5 Posted February 13 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Achto said: approximately $517,216 in 2026, I woulda thought twice that. Either way buy a few horses with that ... 1886 or 2026 ... Edited February 13 by WHX?? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 16,063 #6 Posted February 13 And no FDIC to step in and cover the depositors’ losses. The aftermath of a robbery in that era meant calling loans and mortgages and then paying out depositors at pennies on the dollar. Only a very few states had substantive banking regulations. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 8,690 #7 Posted February 13 4 hours ago, WHX?? said: I woulda thought twice that. Either way buy a few horses with that ... 1886 or 2026 ... The value of $15000 in 1866 was the same in 1942 and the real inflation took place well after that. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beap52 2,112 #9 Posted February 13 We used to live about 15 miles from the "Jessie James Farm", a few miles north of Kansas City. Years ago they would have outdoor plays there chronicling the James family. If I remember, it didn't seem to be a large extravagant house. Jessie's dad was a Baptist preacher who had preached at the old church building just outside of Excelsior Springs, MO. It was told that Jessie's mom's arm was damaged on some attack on the James clan. She would hold the crippled arm up when boarding the train and insisted on a free ride. It seems that$15,000 was a large amount for a bank to have on hand. I'm thinking most of our local banks don't keep huge amounts of cash in them now a days. Probably had to do with the banking system back then when compared to now. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
