Final answer:
Debasement of imperial coinage intended to fight inflation often resulted in hyperinflation, eroding savings and purchasing power, and leading to widespread economic crisis and loss of confidence in the currency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debasement of imperial coinage, which was intended to combat inflation, actually led to the opposite effect known as hyperinflation. This occurred in various historical instances, such as the economic crisis in Weimar Germany post-World War I. Hyperinflation resulted as the government began printing more money to tackle financial troubles like paying striking workers or funding war efforts. As more currency entered circulation, its value plummeted, leading to the situation where people needed wheelbarrows full of cash to buy everyday items. Savings were quickly eroded, and the middle class was particularly affected, losing their purchasing power and becoming disillusioned with governmental policies.
In the United States, following the Revolutionary War, similar patterns emerged as states issued their own currencies leading to inflation, with phrases like "not worth a Continental" entering the lexicon. The Continental dollar's value rapidly declined as too much was in circulation relative to available gold and silver, which was the specie standard of the time. The same pattern is observable in various historical contexts where excessive printing of money in response to debt or economic challenges led to currency devaluation and exacerbated economic crises.