I've read a lot of survival/prepping material and watched a lot of movies and TV shows on the subject. The most serious survivalists had precious metals as the standard unit of exchange. They stressed gold and silver will be all you can use once the SHTF, along with barter of course.
I have issues with that, as do others, and believe that such investments as physical gold and silver are best saved for after reconstruction when things become stable. Also, I don't believe most people will have the luxury of a stash of PMs, and those that do will use that up quickly if they are starving to death.
Given all that, there is the Fallout scenario where bottle caps are currency, but I think coins will still be the standard. They are certified for weight and purity and as with any metal, they are a commodity that is universally traded.
Now, back to this rating system based on the market value of the metal in coin currency. Using this system could get complicated with the changing market. The market locally will differ from any world market and will ultimately be the standard of value where you are doing business.
Even with the simple system I proposed . . .
1 Half-Dollar = 2 Quarters = 2 Nickels = 4 copper pennies = 5 Dimes = 16 zinc pennies.
. . . creates problems when making change, particularly the Dimes that are really close in value to the copper pennies. However, with weights based on coins, a token currency of other common metals like brass, aluminum, steel, etc. can be produced from scrap metal.
The system that is eventually used will be more of a barter exchange but I have to think the metal content and weight of coins would have everything to do with their value in a Mad Max Barter Town scenario. I see no reason to believe that coins will not still be currency in a SHTF economy, just valued differently.
I have issues with that, as do others, and believe that such investments as physical gold and silver are best saved for after reconstruction when things become stable. Also, I don't believe most people will have the luxury of a stash of PMs, and those that do will use that up quickly if they are starving to death.
Given all that, there is the Fallout scenario where bottle caps are currency, but I think coins will still be the standard. They are certified for weight and purity and as with any metal, they are a commodity that is universally traded.
Now, back to this rating system based on the market value of the metal in coin currency. Using this system could get complicated with the changing market. The market locally will differ from any world market and will ultimately be the standard of value where you are doing business.
Even with the simple system I proposed . . .
1 Half-Dollar = 2 Quarters = 2 Nickels = 4 copper pennies = 5 Dimes = 16 zinc pennies.
. . . creates problems when making change, particularly the Dimes that are really close in value to the copper pennies. However, with weights based on coins, a token currency of other common metals like brass, aluminum, steel, etc. can be produced from scrap metal.
The system that is eventually used will be more of a barter exchange but I have to think the metal content and weight of coins would have everything to do with their value in a Mad Max Barter Town scenario. I see no reason to believe that coins will not still be currency in a SHTF economy, just valued differently.
A trail goes two ways and looks different in each direction - There is no such thing as a timid woodland creature - Whatever does not kill you leaves you a survivor - Jesus is NOT a bad word - MSB