"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."-- Plato
I am thinking that when, not if, SHTF occurs, the banks will close. Two weeks after the banks are closed and people realize they are not going to reopen, gold & silver coins will be a good item to have hold of. They will become the currency of choice (in my opinion). Food and water will soon become very tradeable also.