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Message: <blockquote data-quote="abri" data-source="post: 53833" data-attributes="member: 1080">That I can answer: a barrel of similar size than the one in the PHB, cost between $300-1000. The price depend a lot on the wood quality (oak, sherry-wood...) and on the quality of the barrel. Yes it is expensive, but remember that the wood has to be dried for years and that it takes time to manufacture one (and aren't many people left who can make nice barrels). I suggest reading some of Ars Magica 4ed books, one of the most realistic description of medieval ecomomic system (especially: Sons of Merlin sourcebook).Most peasant in those times had enough money to feed themselves (bread, eggs, vegetables, and LOTS of vegetable soup) and drink a lot (about 4+ pints of beer a day). They were able to have some meat (ok, not very often): mostly salted/smoked pork, and a chicken about once a month...And once a year when they slaughtered a pig they would have fresh meat.Now that describe about 60% of peasants in 12th century England, 30% would be real poor, and 10% would be richer (there were a few case of non-noble but still incredibly rich farmer). Also, coins weren't used by peasants untill the development of towns: this created the oportunity for them to sell their surplus much more easily and thus develloped the use of coins. Before that taxes were paid in livestock/grains or even grains (some peasant could pay their taxes through the year, other paid once a year...)</blockquote>