A livre was the basic unit of French
currency, like our dollar. Money was scarce in the colony, so
people traded the goods and services they produced for the items
they wanted. For example, a farmer might trade two bushels of
wheat, valued at 20 livres, for two used shirts, also valued at 20
livres. Remember, there were no stores in colonial Illinois, so the
used shirts would probably have come from an estate
sale.
Pretend that you are a farmer and choose an item below that you would like for yourself or for your home in colonial Illinois.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96