Cool. I had some interest in this about a month or so back... But didn't look more into it for lack of knowledge.
[FYI/Useless info.] I read somewhere that the dollar stopped being backed by gold because it was hurting the farmers. It was an article on the the Movie 'The Wizard of Oz'... How the characters symbolized people in the real world. The Lion represented the Government and was too cowardly to do anything. The scarecrow represented the farmers and how they were... well, stupid. The tin-man represented industry and how it would halt at times (due to rust..?), and the munchkins represeneted everyone else, since they were the little people.
Edit: Of course the yellow brick road represented... you know what.