Their uselessness is part of what makes them a good store of value. Useful things get used up, so they don't last.

Gold emerged as a standard in the past for good historical reason, and those reasons still apply today. It's rare, it doesn't rust or perish, and it is hard to forge. You can mix it with lesser metals, but that's relatively easy to detect by weighing and volume measurement. Gold in a standard form, eg coins, is even easier to validate. Arguably gold is even more likely to become the basis of an economy in future, because of its past. It has a track record. People know it works. They'll expect it.

I think in an initial crisis, people will hope it will end in a few weeks or months, and even uneducated ones will know they'll be able to sell gold for a decent value when its over. So there will be a viable gold economy quite quickly. There's no reason why that shouldn't last, as long as there are humans living above subsistence level to trade with.

Interesting take on the perspective.

One of the things that's been mentioned several times on this thread is the usefullness of jewelry. Maybe it would be more worthwhile to stock that than coins?

Just a few tidbits of my wife's family history that might be pertinent here. Her father was born near Ulan Bator, Outer Mongolia, of Russian parents who were leaving Russia as a result of the 1918 revolution. Moving east through Siberia, one of the most useful barter items for food were sewing needles!

On the other hand, the valuables they were carrying came in handy when,closely pusued by the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. forces, the sled containing the family jewels overturned,diverting their pursuers, and giving them time to escape..

Figure out what commodity will be scarce and valued, remembering that gold, etc. have a long history and plenty of admirers......

Footnote: Geez, that didn't take long... I had no idea the censors were up and on the job so early

No kidding. I can get some ambien if someone needs it.

Now I really want to know what you called them. I can't imagine any of the terms in my head are inappropriate. Especially since we're talking about history, unless you were using some derogatory slang word.

He referred to a movement to create a classless, moneyless social order structured upon common ownership of the means of production.

Jeanette Isabelle

I'm guessing it starts with "C" and ends with "ist". or were they called Bolsheviks at the time. Regardless, as used it's not really a political comment.

I had no idea I was so learned,but, of course, you are absolutely correct...

Thanks for the insight. Censoring a political affiliation used in a historical context would be pretty heavy handed; glad you're not!