l live in Canada so I can't help much on exchange rates.

As for certificates, there are very few prior to 1878.
The parish registers are basically all you have prior to 1878. They are all available on microfilm through the LDS and most of the baptism and marriage entries have been transcribed into the IGI.

There are problems with the IGI as have been noted many times on the bulletin board, but it can get you started.