I was thinking actual stock certificates, for things like interurbans and steam railroads and mining companies that would go into receivership during the Depression. Seems like there are a lot of the certificates—ones which would later be declared valueless rather than voided—floating around on eBay.
I like the way this thread is turning…
I love it. However, aren’t you potentially committing fraud by duplicating existing certificates by taking them back in time?
Time travel paradoxes. Darn them.
60Hz was established as the U.S. standard for alternating current in 1888 and the modern plug with flat blades and sockets with matching slots were in widespread use by 1915. You could take a generator with a hand crank and USB socket back with you just to be sure, though.
I’m with those that say bring copies of stocks/sporting events/races. All you’d need would be to take a few bucks of 1915 money and in a few months you should be good to go for a very long time. Hitting a couple of trifectas per day would be enough by itself.
Regardless, I’m thinking that no matter how rich you are anyone from 2015 will quickly become bored to tears in 1915. We’ve had these discussions before and I’m always surprised at how many people would accept living 100 years ago as compared to today as long as they would be rich. No appreciation to how good we have it today as opposed to then.
I agree, therefore since the OP is referring to a working time machine I suggest to bury a few T206 Honus Wagner baseball cards in 1915, return to today, retrieve the cards, contact the most celebrated auction houses… Enjoy the start of baseball season in your personal baseball stadium luxury suite.
Actually, most buffalo nickels aren’t worth more than face value, and five-cent nickels from even earlier are worth more than five cents, but not much more. They are worth less than their 1915 buying power.
But If the time machine isn’t a one trip deal, go back an forth. Take the oldest money you can get from the bank now, and make successive trips, and go back further and further until you get some valuable coinage, then come back to the present and sell it. Repeat. Maybe win a few sports bets or something along the way. You could also try buying some baseball cards in early 1919, and see if you get lucky. A Joe Jackson has to be worth a lot too.
If you are too young to have been vaccinated for smallpox, pick up that vaccine around 1970. And bluff your way into a prescription for an antibiotic, because, 1915.
If you want to go the other way, just to give posterity something to puzzle over, buy a bunch of $1 pocket calculators, and in 1977, sell them for $20 each. They will be the cheapest ones on the market, and people will flock to you.
Anyway, by about the fifth trip into the past hunting through your progressively older money for stuff you can take further back, you can probably stop in 1915 in pretty good comfort. Good enough for people to wonder where the hell you came from. Also, comfort is relative, since there’s not going to be any AC. Have fun at the world premiere of Intolerance. Also, Votes for Women!
Just make sure you don’t take back any items that are dated after the year you arrive in, or you might spontaneously be transported back to the future or Somewhere in Time 
This is a game we used to play as kids - back to some arbitrary date with only things you could carry.
As I remember it, horseracing results were considered the best way of accumulating wealth to start with, followed by the stock exchange.
There are a lot of other considerations though - clothes; not too much problem for 1915. Language/accent no great problem either; just tell people you have been away in foreign part for a few years. You would need to swat up on customs and manners, especially if you are not white and male. Essential to carry a good supply of antibiotics and get vaccinated against ever disease you can.
Weapons were always interesting: Again 1915 is easy; antiques from the period are easily available. A knife, handgun and, possibly, a sword stick would be fine.
The further back you go, the harder it gets - both in terms of information, clothes, customs and weapons, and the general suspicion that a stranger who could somehow predict the future might cause.
How many of these trips back in time would you need, starting today (2015) end arriving in 1915 with a pile of cash (US dollars) you could use?
Maybe 2015 → 1975 → 1955 → 1935 → 1915?
Less than that? More than that? Were there significant dates in US monetary history? When did they change the design of the bills? Were older dollar bills ever declared void?
You’d need to go back in hops of about 5 years. Paper money doesn’t last long.
I would take gold and/or precious gems. For those who worry about IRS agents coming snooping, forget it. There was no IRS, no income tax, no snooping agents. Even if the gold loses 2/3 of its value, there is little you can carry whose dollar density is anywhere near that. And given any kind of decent sports book you can readily multiply your initial cache by a lot. And no revenue agent will be looking over your shoulder.
Even when I was a kid, you could easily spend a lot of money before the government would come around to ask questions. Your friendly banker did not report unusual transactions to anyone. Life was a lot freer in those days. I did not need a birth certificate to get a driver’s license or SS card; they just took my word for it.
Pickup some man-made emeralds. Very cheap now but back then an emerald with deep color and no inclusions? $$$$
This is a good idea. At least here in the US, it’s not uncommon to find bills from the 1990’s still circulating. Withdraw massive amounts of money at ATM’s and bank counters, separate all bills dated 1995 or before, and spend the rest to get change. Of that change, separate everything dated 1995 or before. Rinse, repeat. Travel back to 1995, go to Western Union with all of your bills dated, say, between 1985 and 1995 and wire it to yourself (heh heh). Go collect your money, and separate everything dated 1985 or before. Repeat as needed until you get back to your desired date.
Yes, but if anyone glimpses your tablet suspicion may put you in grave danger. Even if you think it worth the risk, I’d keep paper copies of race results as well, and a few good stock tips for yourself – it will take only a few to get very rich. (That’s assuming your arrival doesn’t change the past, affecting race results, etc.)
Take a few knick-knacks (surely there are better option than digital watches and laser toys) to raise money initially.
No. This is a political meme to oppose efforts against income inequality. (“America’s poor are happier than 19th-century nobles!” :smack: ) Much American leisure today seems dependent on TV, etc. but if you can adapt you’ll be very prosperous and happy, rich in 1915. Perhaps imagine life as a soap opera with you the rich playboy. Just your knowledge of modern science will make you an excellent conversationalist. (It will be much harder to avoid suspicious revelations than to think of interesting things to say.)
A key problem is what to pack in your go-bag. Definitely bring some penicillin. Mosquito repellent, perhaps. What else?
Would the OP really need to find old currency? I can’t imagine anti-counterfeiting measures were up to snuff back in 1915, but I could be wrong?
How feasible would it be to create counterfeit 1915 dollars today that would pass muster then?
Get all the vaccinations, and other preventive medical treatments, you can find before you go. No point in catching tuberculosis and typhoid the moment you arrive.
So, it seems like there’s a couple different factors in play, including:
- How much money you have available in the present,
- How much weight and bulk you can carry with you,
to maximize the 1915 value of your bankroll and minimize the problems of liquidating it. Is that about right? So, just how much funding do you have in the present? If that’s high enough, then we might end up back at gold, never mind how much effective value you lose with the historical difference in gold prices.
Pretty easy if your first stop is to go back about 20 years and get the right Xerox copier before they put in the safeguards to stop forging. You could probably even get your hands on the right paper and some washing machines and poker chips to really do it right.
Personally, if it’s a two way trip I’d go back with as much gold and silver as I could convert into 1915 money, engage the services of a good lawfirm to set up a trust and investment account and set up some good long term investments. Then I’d set up a way for me and my ‘heirs’ to be able to access this account periodically to change investments over time. Then I’d just forward in time to several key investment opportunities to shift my investments with the market. There are many key points I can think of off the top of my head where you could make unreal amounts of money using this.
On a personal note, I’d also use my investment money to buy several really nice classic cars throughout that time period, storing them lovingly away in a nice secluded warehouse after purchasing them new and then setting them up for very long term storage. I’d do the same with some key real estate purchases and maybe some other things. When I come back to this time not only would I have millions from my investments (probably more like 100’s of millions at a minimum as long as I hit the key ups and downs of the market in the last 100 years) but I’d have some VERY cool cars and some nice property as well.
Firearms might be a good source of value. Colt 1911 model handguns are still popular in the US and any gun store can hook you up with one for a few hundred dollars, certainly not more than a thousand or two. Grab one for personal protection (ammo will be plentiful) and look for a few additional ones for trade - look for ones that actually date from 1915 or before and/or ones that you can file the markings off of. Go back and sell your extra ones to a gun shop.