Value of a Dollar in 1850?

Question

I'm trying to find how much an American dollar in 1850 would be worth in current American dollars.

I'm not asking for the collector's rate of how much a physical dollar from then would be worth, but what the value is. For instance, a long time ago you could buy things for pennies. Now you can buy things like that at the dollar store. Therefore, a penny back then is worth 100 pennies today (that's a terrible and incorrect example but you get the point.)

I'm trying to find a calculator for this online but I'm not having any luck. If anyone has any information for me that would be very appreciated. Also, if you know the answer but with a different but similar year, that's fine.

Answer 1

http://www.measuringworth.com/  has a calculator that gos back before 1800 but because of the different products available now it should be interpreted with caution.

$1 (1850) = $ 27.29 (2007)