http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_in_Germany#Reparations
I just wanted to point out that this example, which I think was universally agreed to be A Very Bad Thing(tm), still says "a plan was formulated by which Germany was to pay 226 milliard gold marks in forty-two fixed annuities".
To my knowledge, virtually no speaker of English will have the slightest idea of what this might mean. First, "milliard" which is apparently in declining use everywhere. Second "gold marks". A "gold mark" is worth approximately what? I have no clue.
--Jimbo