Well if anyone would know what a nickel was worth in 1884 it would be Thomas and possibly pnoon.
On a more serious note, so much wealth today is calculated on pretend numbers and projected income, look at people like Mark Z from Facebook, his money is on paper and based on projected earning of a company that doesn't produce a God damn thing. Different type of tycoon these days, these are not what we used to refer to as titans of industry. I am sure I will be corrected on this, but it's all part of the game, flame on.