币界网报道：The American Revolution marked a pivotal shift in monetary policy as the Continental Congress issued paper currency to fund the war effort, establishing the first fiat money system in U.S. history. This unbacked currency, known as "Continentals," rapidly depreciated due to overprinting, leading to the phrase "not worth a Continental." Despite its failure, this experiment laid groundwork for modern fiat systems by demonstrating government's ability to create value through legal tender laws rather than precious metal backing. The episode remains a cautionary tale about inflation risks in fiat currencies while highlighting their potential as tools for national sovereignty and economic mobilization during crises.