[SkyDancer]

You pay to buy it (say a certificate, not the real thing) and you pay to sell it. If you had the real stuff what could you do with it? Say the dollar was worth zero. How do you value a chunk of gold against a loaf of bread? Who would then determine value? The grocer could say, “Ok, that’ll cost ya a chunk of gold” .... an ounce ... a quarter ounce? Carry a scale around with you?

[pgkdan]

You pay to buy it (say a certificate, not the real thing) and you pay to sell it. If you had the real stuff what could you do with it? Say the dollar was worth zero. How do you value a chunk of gold against a loaf of bread? Who would then determine value? The grocer could say, “Ok, that’ll cost ya a chunk of gold” .... an ounce ... a quarter ounce? Carry a scale around with you?

I'm sure there are gold bugs out there who can refute those arguements (or try) but those are the exact reasons I haven't bought gold.

[tired1]

I fear that we may learn the practical answer to your question.

[atomic_dog]

If you had the real stuff what could you do with it? Say the dollar was worth zero. How do you value a chunk of gold against a loaf of bread? Who would then determine value? The grocer could say, “Ok, that’ll cost ya a chunk of gold” .... an ounce ... a quarter ounce? Carry a scale around with you?

That, plus the fact that a very small amount of gold has a lot of value (relative to the dollar), is why I like silver. To be precise, pre-1964 90% US silver coins. Most everyone is familiar with them. They are very easily traded at multiples of face value, currently right around 11.7 to 1. People always need a medium of exchange and I believe that at sometime in the future they will be referenced in silver and cartridges. For example, 8 22LR rounds = 1 silver US dime.