Fedora as a gift

In the Last Crusade young Indy recieves a fedora as a compesation for the lost cross. The guy that gave him that hat was very generous. But could that realy happen?
I for sure would like to have an advanture in wich at the end I would get a free fedora.
Was that an expencive present for it's time?
Today it would be around 100-150 dollars. But what was the value of the hat back then.

pretty much every manhad one back then...not uncommon. Besides the guy just made a wad of cash for getting the cross, maybe he wanted a new one.
I also think he saw a lot of Indy in himself, kind of a right of passage.
I'd like to hear the stories behind this guy's adventures! Here's an idea for the writers out there in the Raven!