But you can counterfeit paper gold, which is what this is. Or perhaps more accurately, you can default on a promise to redeem a paper debt for a given amount o

But you can counterfeit paper gold, which is what this is. Or perhaps more accurately, you can default on a promise to redeem a paper debt for a given amount of gold. The US Dollar is at least upfront about it. It cannot be redeemed for gold or anything else anymore. Also, your 10 nines seem inaccurate. Apparently $1 from 1665 would have the buying power of almost $26 today. That's certainly depreciating, but nowhere near the extent you're portraying.