diff --git a/amounts.py b/amounts.py
index f3a58986..aa70086c 100644
--- a/amounts.py
+++ b/amounts.py
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@ print x
 y = Amount ("$1000.45")
 print x + y
 
-z = Value ("$1000.45")
-print y + z
+y = Amount ("$1000.45")
+print x * y
 
-z += x
+z = Value ("$1000.45")
+#print z + Value(y)
+
+z += Value(x)
 print z
diff --git a/value.cc b/value.cc
index a811c778..d48426b4 100644
--- a/value.cc
+++ b/value.cc
@@ -557,6 +557,8 @@ void export_value()
     .def(init<balance_pair_t>())
     .def(init<balance_t>())
     .def(init<amount_t>())
+    .def(init<std::string>())
+    .def(init<double>())
     .def(init<unsigned int>())
     .def(init<bool>())
 
diff --git a/value.h b/value.h
index 39a258b5..10775b1e 100644
--- a/value.h
+++ b/value.h
@@ -46,6 +46,18 @@ class value_t
     *((unsigned int *) data) = value;
     type = INTEGER;
   }
+  value_t(const double value) {
+    new((amount_t *) data) amount_t(value);
+    type = AMOUNT;
+  }
+  value_t(const std::string& value) {
+    new((amount_t *) data) amount_t(value);
+    type = AMOUNT;
+  }
+  value_t(const char * value) {
+    new((amount_t *) data) amount_t(value);
+    type = AMOUNT;
+  }
   value_t(const amount_t& value) {
     new((amount_t *)data) amount_t(value);
     type = AMOUNT;
@@ -80,6 +92,15 @@ class value_t
     }
     return *this;
   }
+  value_t& operator=(const double value) {
+    return *this = amount_t(value);
+  }
+  value_t& operator=(const std::string& value) {
+    return *this = amount_t(value);
+  }
+  value_t& operator=(const char * value) {
+    return *this = amount_t(value);
+  }
   value_t& operator=(const amount_t& value) {
     if ((amount_t *) data != &value) {
       if (! value) {