Bad money experiences left a nasty taste in the mouths of most at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Their plan was to stop the use of paper money. They added a monetary constraint to the document which prohibits any state from 'making any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in the Payment of Debts' . This requirement slapped the responsibility right on the states to keep our money honest. We have a constitutional right to real money.
Paper money is a good deal for government.
Gold and silver coin are the ONLY legal tender allowed by the Constitution. The Coinage Act of 1792 defined our money and specifies our coins are to be of gold and silver. This is still a valid act of the Congress . . . Congress has never repealed it. Congress is ordered to regulate the value of foreign coin.