source https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DS19590924.2.13&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-------- TIL that during Khrushchev’s 1959 visit to the Mesla Machine Company steel plant in Pittsburgh, a worker named Kenneth Jackey handed him a cigar. Khrushchev didn’t smoke and in return, gave Jackey his wristwatch. Later, Jackey had the watch appraised for insurance and was told it was worth only $14.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 20 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Weren't cigars back then worth even less than $14 and were frequently given to children as prizes for winning a carnival game?

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Hard to know for sure but this considering was a 50's steel plant I'm going to guess that the quality was less Cuban and more swisher sweet, which google tell me are currently $1.19 for two although it was pre-cuban revolution so hq cigars were probably more available back then but I don't think they would have exceeded $155.42(adjusted for inflation) individually

So yeah educated guess it was maybe a couple of dollars probably much less

[–] alexei_1917@hexbear.net 3 points 3 days ago

So, the worker absolutely came out ahead. Which is how an interaction like that should go. Also, irrespective of the monetary value, the thing the worker got was a practical item with a use value, which is what really matters.