[Richard T]

I can't see how getting gold is of any help, unless you can sell it back for a new currency. Even then, gold, silver, any precious metal, would be acquired at the new trading value based on the value of a new currency, depending on its valuation.

If you buy thousands of devalued dollars worth of gold, how much new valued currency can you get for that amount in gold. And on what is that new currency valued with tho start?

The other possibility is an interim time frame when there is no solid currency, while the current currency has lost almost all its value.

What is the point of having the gold then? Anyone believes he will go and buy a piece of bread with a chunk of gold? How many such chunks can you get for the money? How many coins? Can you trade with half coins? Quarter of coins? Smaller fractions? It makes no sense. Your pockets would end up emptied after just a few trips to the grocery store. It just is not workable. And the grocery store guy could not split the coins to pay between the different types of services he requires to hold his shop.

And, for those in the US, it seems to me that Patriot Act prohibited the use of such hard currencies to prevent untraceable transactions that could finance 'terrorism'.