The following list includes actual sovereign defaults and debt restructuring of independent countries from 1300 till 2008:[15]
blah blah blah
United States (1779 (devaluation of Continental Dollar), 1790, 1862,[ref 17] 1933 (see Executive Order 6102),[ref 16] 1971 (Nixon Shock)
- 9 states (1841–1842)[ref 16]
- 10 states and many local governments (1873-83 or 1884)[ref 16]
The "Nixon Shock" is well worth reading about and the events leading up to the abandonment of the gold standard. Also cross reference inflation and deflation over time for fun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_default