Worthless in a collapse. If your a wealthy person and could buy enough it could be used as a hedge during a recession. I think gold is high right now. I'd wait for a pull back to buy. You don't want to buy any commodity while it's making new highs. It will pull back at some point. Then it may double again. Who knows?

 

In a collapse it's hard to tell what it wil be worth. One thing for sure is that it will be better than paper.

 

Worthless in a collapse. If your a wealthy person and could buy enough it could be used as a hedge during a recession. I think gold is high right now. I'd wait for a pull back to buy. You don't want to buy any commodity while it's making new highs. It will pull back at some point. Then it may double again. Who knows?

I agree from an investment standpoint, but in a collapse anything tangible (gold, silver, food, gas, etc.) will still be worth something. A paper US dollar will not be worth much to anyone in a economic collapse.

Think of the paper US dollar as an IOU, as of late the IOUs far outweigh it's collateral backing. Add to this that nothing in it's composition is worth even it's own weight. It may suffice for toilet paper in an economic collapse.

 

in a collapse anything tangible (gold, silver) in a economic collapse.

Hedging against inflation with gold is impossible unless you're rich during inflationary periods, and impossible for everyone in a collapse. Lets say a loaf of bread cost $1600 today. Lets say in a year inflation has made a loaf cost $16,000. Well all owning gold will do is allow you to buy that same $16,000 loaf for $1600. So in essence you will only be able to afford what you can afford in todays dollars. If we get ten times or 1000% inflation it may go hyper and then get crazy. Then when the police are gone, the looters are out, the electricity is gone, and the cities burn; gold will do nothing. If you want to invest, fine gold may go up, but don't count on it helping you in a collapse. Food and survival necessities will. I think with gold so high and real estate so low that land is a better investment in todays dollars.

What're you going to do with a coin when it looks like this.

But this however may save your ass.

 

Can't eat either one.

On the other hand, my investment counselor has always said gold was the worst possible investment anyone could ever make, but the gold I bought for $300 sure has done better than the stocks.

 

I agree with pretty much everything said here, which I must add has really shocked me! Most forums I hear people saying how precious metals will be the currency, I dont see that during a collapse or any disaster.

I have heard people say that during a collapse that gold would be the currency. I have seen little film shorts where it shows people bartering for goods and pulling out a gold necklace and cutting off a few links to pay for it. I have always viewed those and thought what good would a few links be to the merchant? They will want the whole necklace! During a collapse a $300 gold necklace might buy you $20 of beans or bullets, NOT SURE about the bullets!

Just think about and put yourself into the situation. Lets say its Katrina, you have enough food to last 2 months, a wekk has already passed and you have not seen any aid or signs of any changes from the government or FEMA. Someone stops by your place wanting to buy food and water. Will you bet your life buy selling your food and water for a few links out of a gold chain? Will you be willing to take the whole chain? Personally I wouldnt want either, I would rather keep my food and water.

It is far better to invest in the beans, bullets and bandages now! I know its cliche but I think its accurate. Besides history has demonstrated this in the past. During the American Civil War, the Russian Civil War, during both World Wars in areas that were cut-off from resources, and lots of other situations, currency has collapsed and resources were far better for bartering than currency or precious metals.

 

Maybe I should have clarified a little better. I'm not looking to invest now. I did a year+ ago in silver. Bought in @ $16, now it is @ $40.
I've also have had a prep mindset since pre Y2K, and in today's economy and potential for unrest am picking it back up more-so than the previous few years. One of my biggest hobbies is shooting and I reload extensively as well as cast my own.
So I guess my question should have been do you think it would remain valuable or just be some fancy door stops?

 

AFTER the collapse it could prove very valuable, if there is never a collapse it could prove very valuable. I wouldnt sell if thats your worry.

 

same old song

diversify.
yeah, get some gold...and silver for 'change'.

i don't know what's going to happen.

let's say that 'nothing' happens:
you still have the gold/silver.
make your honey some jewelry.

or, maybe a monetary collapse.
then you'll spend your stockpile.

and if the worst happens:
be like the Lone Ranger
and make silver bullets.

 

In a collapse it's hard to tell what it wil be worth. One thing for sure is that it will be better than paper.[/QUOTE]

Ummm... I wouldn't be to sure about that. Toilet paper is going to have some considerable value in some situations. :thumbup:

 

it depends upon the collapse and how far that collapse goes.

in the case of a deep collapse, precious metals will have value both early in the collapse and then late in the recovery. during the final stages of the collapse and early in the recovery, necessities and labor will have far more value than any precious metal as food, clothing, shelter and water (and the ability to create these things) will be far more scarce.

here are a couple of large scale collapses:

fall of the Roman Empire
the Black Death

having said that, it is unlikely that there will be collapses of this nature during our lifetimes (but it could happen, more likely from a pandemic)

 

If someone is starving, dying of thirst or under immediate attack, of course at that point in time, precious metals will not be the priority or have much perceived value. If a collapse is so total that there is no commercial interaction, even between individuals, or if those individuals are starving, dying of thirst or under immediate attack, again, little or no perceived value.

Once the immediate threat is over, and commercial activity of almost any kind resumes, then precious metals always have had and most likely always will have, value. In short, in almost any situation outside of core survival mode.

 

a cheaper alternative to silver&gold?

that's what this guy says:
http://www.gunsgold.com/2011/02/zero-risk-coin-investment-with-nickels.html?spref=tw

 

If someone is starving, dying of thirst or under immediate attack, of course at that point in time, precious metals will not be the priority or have much perceived value. If a collapse is so total that there is no commercial interaction, even between individuals, or if those individuals are starving, dying of thirst or under immediate attack, again, little or no perceived value.

Once the immediate threat is over, and commercial activity of almost any kind resumes, then precious metals always have had and most likely always will have, value. In short, in almost any situation outside of core survival mode.

Exactly.

At no point in recorded history has gold or silver ever been worth nothing. It always has some value.

 

Exactly.

At no point in recorded history has gold or silver ever been worth nothing. It always has some value.

Lets pray the day never comes it is worth nothing because those would be bad days indeed.

 

Lets pray the day never comes it is worth nothing because those would be bad days indeed.

If it did ever happen I'm sure not much would matter anymore anyway, to include your net worth :laugh:

 

Lets pray the day never comes it is worth nothing because those would be bad days indeed.

Thats what I was insinuating. For it to be so bad that it is worthless would be like "The Road" in which case beans bullets and bandages. Dont forget water.

I remember a quote from somewhere and I dont remember who to credit for it. "In the past wars have been fought for gold and oil, in the future wars will be fought for water."

Found it... Former UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Look at this google search

 

Think of it this way. What is the one commodity that has been fought over for thousands of years and will continue to be. Gold. It will never go out of style. Possession equals power.

 

http://www.wtfnoway.com/

 

If a complete SHTF scenario would ever come about, I have many more lead ingots than anything else. I just hope when I melt the lead ones, it's because I want to, not because I need or have to.
At present, I'm more worried about our current economic status than an EMP, either nuke or solar. I am convinced that our current POTUS is trying to break this country from the inside out. The blank checks being given could wreck things as we know them, then it could get interesting. When the have not's don't get, they will try and take what you have. I have what I have. Anybody trying to take it is really going to have to work very hard, and risk failure.

 

Gold is also a hedge against inflation. As the dollar is debased (less valuable through inflation) gold grows in valuable as people buy it up as a safe haven. The recent run up in gold to $1600 on oz, and $40 for silver, shows just how unstable the current financial situation is. If you believe that things are headed south, Gold is where you want to be with a portion of your savings. Although you have to decide for your self if buying in at $1600 is the right thing to do for you.

 

I keep some silver around just in case but most of my post SHTF barter items are in a big box in my man room.

A few of the items:
small liquor bottles
baby wipes (wipe your ass with scrap paper for a few days, you'll understand)
cigarettes
little hotel soaps

Gold and Silver will more than likely always retain some value, but I've seen people trade amazing things for the above items and I can stock up on them for much less money on my part.

 

Maybe I should have clarified a little better. I'm not looking to invest now. I did a year+ ago in silver. Bought in @ $16, now it is @ $40.
I've also have had a prep mindset since pre Y2K, and in today's economy and potential for unrest am picking it back up more-so than the previous few years. One of my biggest hobbies is shooting and I reload extensively as well as cast my own.
So I guess my question should have been do you think it would remain valuable or just be some fancy door stops?

My guess is a baker would sooner part with a loaf of bread in exchange for silver coins over promissory notes in a shth situation...

 

Alcohol.

 

In a collapse it's hard to tell what it wil be worth. One thing for sure is that it will be better than paper.

But not toilet paper.