Question

Prior to the 1870s, both gold and silver were used as international means of payment and the exchange rates among currencies were determined by either their gold or silver contents. Suppose that the dollar was pegged to gold at $30 per ounce, the French franc is pegged to gold at 90 francs per ounce and to silver at 9 francs per ounce of silver, and the German mark pegged to silver at 1 mark per ounce of silver. What would the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and German mark be under this system?

Answer 1

the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and German mark be under this system will be of 3 U$D = 1 german mark

Step-by-step explanation:

We will use gold and silver as a mean to equalize both currencies:

First equivalence between silver and gold:

90 francs = 1 ounce of gold

9 franc = 1 ounce of silver

90/9 = 10 ounce of silver equals 1 ounce of gold.

Now, we convert the german mark to gold:

1 german mark = ounce of silver

10 german mark = ounce of gold.

Finally, we equalize with the US dollars:

30 dollar = ounce of gold = 10 german mark

30 dollars = 10 german mark

3 dollars = 1 german mark