From page 86 of the Rothbard pdf of 'What Has Government Done To Our Money' copied from
www.mises.org
'It is true that the interventions of governments previous
to the nineteenth century weakened the speed of this market
mechanism, and allowed for a business cycle of inflation
and recession within this gold standard framework. These
interventions were particularly: the governmentsâ monopolizing
of the mint, legal tender laws, the creation of paper
money, and the development of inflationary banking propelled
by each of the governments. But while these interventions
slowed the adjustments of the market, these
adjustments were still in ultimate control of the situation.
So while the classical gold standard of the nineteenth century
was not perfect, and allowed for relatively minor
booms and busts, it still provided us with by far the best
monetary order the world has ever known, an order which
worked, which kept business cycles from getting out of
hand, and which enabled the development of free international
trade, exchange, and investment.'