> If society were to collapse I don’t think anyone would be hoarding gold or silver... unless your Blackbeard or Scrooge McDuck.
Yes, hoarding gold is kind of dumb, especially if you want to barter with it: absolutely no one deals with it on a day-to-day basis so has no idea how much any amount is "worth".
Someone did a small experiment about trying to figure out would be best for emergency preparedness stockpiling (he lives in an earthquake zone):
Cash would be best, as after the emergency we'll just continue on people will be happy to have it. If you want to start worrying about bartering then booze is the best option: familiarity, doesn't spoil, 'inherent value' since people would still want to get tipsy even during emergencies. In the US ammunition could be used as well.
Yes, hoarding gold is kind of dumb, especially if you want to barter with it: absolutely no one deals with it on a day-to-day basis so has no idea how much any amount is "worth".
Someone did a small experiment about trying to figure out would be best for emergency preparedness stockpiling (he lives in an earthquake zone):
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVkDj8lsR7I
Cash would be best, as after the emergency we'll just continue on people will be happy to have it. If you want to start worrying about bartering then booze is the best option: familiarity, doesn't spoil, 'inherent value' since people would still want to get tipsy even during emergencies. In the US ammunition could be used as well.