Wasn't Reagan a real master of that "taxation via devaluation" approach? IIRC he said he wouldn't raise taxes, then kept the treasury slaves up till the wee hours printing reams of bills.

Yes, without sticking to a standard, the mint is fairly loose, and it seems, as you say, the trend is only gaining in popularity.
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The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)