The coins are worth less as metal than they are as coins
Well, this is true. OTOH, what if paper money is mostly devalued and credit money is worthless. What makes a better medium of exchange than a gold or silver struck coin? They're certainly more convenient than little gold or silver bars. You don't need a lot, just a few OZ in tenths for the bug-out-bag....
On a side note, I stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up some 9mm Winchester white box, and they were out of nearly everything.