Another source puts the exchange rate between dollars and pounds in 1800 at five dollars per pound (it is now between 1.5 and 1.6 dollars per pound). If we take Mr. Darcy’s £10,000 and convert it into 1800 dollars at the 1800 exchange rate, then ask how much purchasing power $50,000 would have today, the answer is slightly more than $700,000 per year. Pounds, shillings and pence were the basic currency of Britain throughout the period covered by the Proceedings, having a consistent relationship of 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound.Values are generally expressed as £.s.d., or else l.s.d., as in £12 10s. 6d. or twelve pounds, ten shillings and sixpence. For the fiscal year April 1, 1917–March 30, 1918, the war expenditures of Great Britain have been estimated as £2.5 billion, or 60% of the annual GDP. Taking this amount to apply to the calendar year 1917, the last full year of the war, the comparator yields an economy cost (i.e. the share of GDP) of £1,212 billion measured in pounds of a 100 years later.