The Torah tells us that in order to redeem a firstborn we must use 5 Shaekalim(Numbers 18:16) which are called Sela'im in Talmudic terms. This has been calculated to be 96 grams of pure silver. The custom is to round it up to 100 grams to avoid any mistake in calculation.
Currently, the value of pure silver is measured in troy ounces. 100 grams are equal to 3.21507 troy ounces. One can find out the updated value of pure silver at the NY Times business section under commodities (look for 'metals'):
http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/commodities/commodities.asp
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Thus, in order to figure out the sum of money needed for a pidyon ha'ben one must multiply the value of a troy ounce by the above mentioned figure. This calculation should be done on the day of the pidyon as the value of silver may change daily.
Exaple of the calculation on 4/4/12:
Value of silver – 3,325 cents per troy ounce.
3,325*3.21507= 10,690.1077 cents. Therefor the value of 100 grams of silver is 106.9$
There is a difference of opinion whether or not the redemption may be done with modern currency or do we have to use an object which is worth 5 sela'im. I consulted with my teacher Rav Yossef Zvi Rimon and he is of the opinion that cash can be used for the pidyon. The reason for this is that modern currency can be used everywhere and therefor it has an objective value just as any other object does.
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