# What do survivalists really expect to do with gold if the world ends? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 25, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500 "2014-09-25T04:49:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/41 "2014-09-25T19:23:31Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Exactly. What would you rather have in the wilderness, a gold coin or a good roll of toilet paper? I can wipe my ass with some leaves. Toilet paper might be a nice luxury but it’s hardly a necessity. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/42 "2014-09-25T19:25:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That would be about the right price. > > But let us take a bit further. You have many Oz of Gold. I have a gun. You want to trade gold for gun. I end up with both. > > Even in the case of a “simple” economic collapse, guns and canned goods are a better investment. Why wouldn’t I have a gun too? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/43 "2014-09-25T19:38:55Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Why wouldn’t I have a gun too? Cause you spent your money on gold? ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/44 "2014-09-25T19:46:31Z")
I’m hoarding whiskey, antibiotics, and painkillers. Also, really nice socks. I can face anything with comfy, dry socks, a good bra, a Percocet, and some bourbon. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/45 "2014-09-25T20:10:19Z")
People die. Gold remains. That means that the more people die, the more gold there is per person, and the less valuable gold becomes. If 99% of the population dies, then each survivor has 100 times as much gold, and gold is thus worth 1% of its previous value. QED. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/46 "2014-09-25T20:17:44Z")
And if you’re going to assume that everyone is going to accept your gold/silver coins, why wouldn’t they accept paper currency? Neither has any particular intrinsic value. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/47 "2014-09-25T20:21:28Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Also, really nice socks. I can face anything with comfy, dry socks, a good bra, a Percocet, and some bourbon. Hmm. Going by that logic, I should probably start hoarding beer kegs. Just in case. I don’t mind starving and dying of an infection caused by a mosquito bite in an NBC environment, but by all the gods I’m not doing any of that sober. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/48 "2014-09-25T20:24:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Even in the case of a “simple” economic collapse, guns and canned goods are a better investment. Simple economic collapse… that’s like accessible quantum physics and 5-step plans to enduring peace in Palestine, right ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/49 "2014-09-25T21:10:52Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > And if you’re going to assume that everyone is going to accept your gold/silver coins, why wouldn’t they accept paper currency? Neither has any particular intrinsic value. Paper currency degrades. Gold doesn’t. I again have to point out that gold has always been a default currency, basically for as long as history remembers almost anywhere gold could be found. It’s as good a bet as anything. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/50 "2014-09-25T22:27:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cause you spent your money on gold? Unless he did something crazy like allocate funds for both, especially since a perfectly suitable gun can be had brand new for a few hundred dollars. But, sinceyou want to play this game, I didn’t hear you say that you had bought any ammunition. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/51 "2014-09-25T23:47:56Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I can wipe my ass with some leaves. Toilet paper might be a nice luxury but it’s hardly a necessity. Think of snow storms. What do people stock up on: milk, bread, and toilet paper. I’m investing in TP. My only problem will be how to fend off the Great Cornholio. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/52 "2014-09-26T16:22:53Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Think of snow storms. What do people stock up on: milk, bread, and toilet paper. I’m investing in TP. My only problem will be how to fend off the Great Cornholio. Stay away from Lake Titicaca ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/53 "2014-09-29T14:43:42Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Hmm. Going by that logic, I should probably start hoarding beer kegs. Just in case. I don’t mind starving and dying of an infection caused by a mosquito bite in an NBC environment, but by all the gods I’m not doing any of that sober. Do you know how to home brew? If not, then learning how should be part of your emergency preparedness. Including learning to keep the yeast. Sadly, if we lose refrigeration, the only way to keep the yeast going is to keep brewing. Hmmm. For best results, you or someone nearby will need to know how to malt grain. I think you have proven a need for survivalist beer making classes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/54 "2014-09-29T15:21:02Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > And if you’re going to assume that everyone is going to accept your gold/silver coins, why wouldn’t they accept paper currency? Neither has any particular intrinsic value. Gold and silver can’t readily be counterfeited, are reasonably uncommon, and last basically forever. This makes them useful as a medium of exchange. It’s not so much that they’re “valuable” it’s that, as the default medium of exchange, you can readily exchange them for goods and services. You can try to store something else that has intrinsic value, but you’re likely going to have to exchange it for something like gold and silver when you sell them, they’ll take more space, and may wear out / go bad before you get to sell it. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/55 "2014-09-29T15:34:15Z")
The classic tradition would teach us that every night the gold-bug can shutter the windows, bolt the door inadequately and lift his boxed hoard from a hollow in the floor, then leaning forward in his rickety chair avariciously hold each coin in the light of the candle whilst cackling insanely. \* “Ha ha, see how it glistens ! All mine, my golden darlings ! All MINE !”\* ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/56 "2014-09-29T15:39:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Paper currency degrades. Gold doesn’t. It has nothing to do with paper degrading. People wouldn’t accept paper currency because without the backing of the government that printed the currency, it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. As someone pointed out, gold is just one asset in the portfolio managed by your typical survivalist type. Bottled water, guns, ammo, canned goods, seed, some out of the way shack, transportation and other supplies are all an essential part of surviving the collapse of civilization. I’m curious if they have survivalist types in Europe? One of the things I’ve noticed about survivalist types is that they mostly seem to come from parts of the US where there isn’t a whole lot of civilization to collapse anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/57 "2014-10-01T01:06:34Z")
Quite possibly, the most important assets are like-minded people and a workable plan of action. One cannot realistically go it alone for long. Even a nuclear family operating alone is at a disadvantage if the children aretoo young. All of human history points towards us functioning best in groups. Many (trustworthy) hands make tasks and security easier until the lights are back on and civil order is restored. Back in the alt.rec.survivalism days on usenet, there was a general recognition among those who weren’t clinically insane that the poxy clips might be protracted, but it would most likely be temporary and regional. Those who were too enthusiastic about rule 303 being the only law in the postchlamydia world were gently reminded that the best they couldexpect from acting that way was to be shunned until order was restored and they faced charges. At worst, they could expect to be killed by their own neighbors because having a dangerous psychopath around on top of everything else is just that one thing too many. For anybody but the crazies and the fools, gold and silver will have some value, as will other things too. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/58 "2014-10-01T01:49:13Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Gold and silver can’t readily be counterfeited, are reasonably uncommon, and last basically forever. This makes them useful as a medium of exchange. > > It’s not so much that they’re “valuable” it’s that, as the default medium of exchange, you can readily exchange them for goods and services. They’re only the “default medium of exchange” if _people other than the goldbugs_ accept them as such, and there’s no reason to just assume that they would. It seems far more likely to me that after a collapse people would either demand bartered goods, or after some semblance of order had returned some form of local currency. If nothing else, why would all the people without gold agree to a system of exchange where they have nothing? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/59 "2014-10-01T01:52:21Z")
Wouldn’t anyone willing to barter goods and services for gold need to assay it on the barrelhead? If not, I think a much more practical investment for a post-apocalyptic world would be fake Krugerrands, bullion, etc. But ammo is still better. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500/60 "2014-10-01T01:56:42Z")
Gold and silver are two more possible items of exchange in such an economy. Will everybody accept them? Probably not, but lots of people will. Pure barter economies are too unwieldy, people will want the convenience of some medium of exchange. Also, those with some eye to the future will want to have a something of value when a new government is established. Confederate money was so much worthless paper after there was no more CSA. Gold and silver, along with useful goods, retained value. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-survivalists-really-expect-to-do-with-gold-if-the-world-ends/699500.md?page=4)