Questions for Jo and spoiler for new books

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

No: HPFGUIDX 14144

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Simon, Dr.Mag." <simon at h...> wrote:
> Hello
[snip]
> Below is the answer to one of the questions (37: What is the 
> approximate value of a galleon? Most of our group guesses 1 galleon 
> might be anywhere from £8/$5(US) --- £40/$25(US).)
> 
> But first follows some spoiler space as the information is from the 
> two new schoolbooks. Please respect all members of the group by 
> remembering to use spoiler space when talking about the two new 
> books (Quidditch through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts).
> 
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> On the back of the books it also has the wizard price of the books 
> and hence we can do a conversion rate between the two.
> 
> £2.50 is 14 sickles and 3 Knuts.
> The Lexicon (http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon) tells me that 
> there are 17 to the Galleon.
> 
> Doing some complicated mathematics this gives a conversion of 1 
> Galleon = 3 UK pounds = 4.50 US dollars (roughly).
> 
> Seemingly a little low, so I am off to get a wand. Will only cost 
> me a few pounds, which seems very reasonable.

A bit low, yes - particularly since, in the foreword, it is mentioned 
that Comic Relief has raised "174 million pounds since they started 
in 1985 - over thirty-four million Galleons".  This gives an exchange-
rate of ca. 5pounds 10p to the Galleon.  Still, it gives a wand of 
about £35.70 - not a bad deal.  Five knuts for a copy of Daily 
Prophet, IIRC - equal to ca. 5p for a copy, with the exchange-rate 
from the foreword, or 3p, taking the rate from the back of the books.