The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 17, April 24, 2005, Article 10

FIP: HALF A BIT

Len Augsberger writes: "The Maryland Historical Magazine,
Winter 2004, has a short discussion of newspaper prices
c. 1830-1850. Papers were priced at one "fip" (6 1/4 cents,
half a Spanish bit) at the beginning of the period, some offering
subscriptions at two fips/week. No doubt many other
commodities of the same era were similarly priced in Spanish
bits. The "penny press" was introduced later, with advances
in printing technology reducing the cost of daily papers to as
little as one cent."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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