I was told that a sword purchased in the medieval era would cost the equivalent of a million pounds in today's money, is this true?

by tardybridge
isabelladangelo

No, not unless it was jewel encrusted and basically ceremonial. According to [this website] (http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medprice.htm) a basic peasant's sword was 6 pence in 1340. Using an inflation calculator, the range it could be worth is pretty impressive but on the very highest end, you still get £910 - a far cry from a million. More likely, it would be the equivalent of £340.

Now, of course, this is for a peasant sword which would be pretty basic and rudimentary (think "off the shelf" today versus "bespoke"). A nobleman's sword would be a great deal more - upwards to £10,000 - with most costing about half that or less. Still, not anywhere near the million mark. :-)