Wars have been fought over guano.
L
Yep, right up until we converted our big munition manufacturing facilities after WWII to ammonium nitrate production for fertilizer.
When the Chinese and Japanese were first allowed in the country after the war they both wanted to see the nitrate production facilities we had for fertilizer more than anything.
Personally I prefer silver to any other physical investment myself. Bitcoin? Seriously? A farmer will sell you some eggs or a quarter hog a whole lot faster when you walk up with something tangible in your hand instead of a thumb drive.
Gold is more difficult I believe simply because with silver it’s easier to make change and pay smaller amounts than with gold unless you get the really small pieces, and holding a half lb. of silver that someone can see and feel is way better than a few grams of gold when you’re negotiating IMHO.