Silver/Gold or Paper?

Would you rather walk around with, and spend, $300 in silver/gold coins (assuming the world worked that way) or $300 in paper money?

 

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I'll buy with paper but sell for silver/gold coin.

 

My feelings precisely!!!

 

I like the idea of filling up a gas tank with a silver dollar, paying for lunch with a quarter.

 

I'd rather walk around with paper. Easier on the pockets and won't make you limp.

 

Would it be better, if the paper was backed by the metals (gold, silver), and when you went to use it, that its value was be tied directly to the metals. The value of paper would change as the metal changed, so your pocket would not be bulging with the coins, only paper. Look at the forever stamps. You buy them and if the cost of stamps go up, the stamps are still good.

 

I love gold and silver coins and would much prefer to use them in transactions.

 

Gold & Silver coins feel nice to hold (knowing there's real intrinsic value) but WEAR is a consideration. The inconvenience of having to hoard your own wealth is another drawback.

I favor something like an eGold or eSilver debit card, with actual Treasury banks that might let you run your hands through the stash from time to time.

[video=youtube_share;Iz-8CSa9xj8]http://youtu.be/Iz-8CSa9xj8[/video]

 

Why not be able to use both?

 

Other than convenience guess it wouldn't matter.If the gold/silver is going to be worth the same regardless paper seems like a more convenient way to go.If we'll have the fluctuation of gold/silver prices maybe it be worth having that.As I spend nickels,dimes and quarters the same as paper money I'll go for a mix.

 

I think a mix would be a great way to go. Of course, the paper would need to be linked to silver (or copper - now that would be disheartening) if that were to occur.

 

In the ideal world I will have spent my last dollar
on the same day the Chinese Yaun becomes
the offical "petro-dollar."

 

Along with what Doug said, I say a dollar is a dollar and I'd use the most convenient form, which is paper. Silver and gold have the same imaginary real value as paper, so why load your pockets up with weight?
Guy

 

For proof of this study Mexican numismatic history from about 1950 to date. That will show you why not only is the idea impractical, its actually a horrible idea to attempt unless it it only a very tiny token amount, (say 1 gram of silver in a $10 circulating coin). Even that can bite you in the rear, and cause a lot more economic damage than any benefit ever derived.

 

Concerning the OP's point, I agree with Copperhead and Doug, paper is more convenient. I am betting 99% or the general population would agree.

As proof, back when we had the option of either silver dollars or gold coins versus paper money, how much of each actually CIRCULATED? That will show you what the general public preferences would be. Non-coin collectors simply prefer the convenience of paper money. Your answers on Coin Talk I would not advise you use as a proxy of "normal" people.

 

I prefer plastic.

As Doug says, money is an idea, an abstract concept, information. I choose to take advantage of information-age capabilities:

I carry a single token (a credit card), linked to an arbitrary reservoir of value. My pockets are never overstuffed with it, no matter how much I need to spend or accept.

A third party actually pays me (via a rewards program) for the privilege of accounting for money in and money out, recouping their cost through merchant surcharges, marketing intelligence, and fees charged to those who carry a balance or incur penalties.

But I have to admit that it's not as much fun as handling coins -- which, other things being equal, entertain me a lot more than paper money.

 

I'd like to use this:
http://rt.com/business/news/sberbank-kazakhstan-gold-bankcard-659/

 

Why not issue quarter sized coins made of .999 silver with a face value of $5?