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Gold vs Silver: Which Precious Metal Is Better for SHTF Scenarios?

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Both gold and silver can become an alternative currency if the economy as we know it collapses.

But which of these two precious metals would be more useful in a crisis?

Let’s explore the pros and cons of gold vs silver for SHTF scenarios.

Choosing Between Gold and Silver for SHTF Scenarios

Spoiler alert: If you’re stowing away precious metals as part of emergency prep, your stash should ideally include both gold and silver.

However, most of us are on a limited budget, so which of the two precious metals should you prioritize, and why?

1. Liquidity

Gold & Silver Coins

Gold is a lot more expensive than silver per weight unit. Thus, silver is a much better choice for everyday bartering.

You can quickly exchange a silver coin or a small bar for some food and supplies, whereas gold is more suitable for larger purchases, like a vehicle, livestock, or land.

Paying for something with gold will likely require a lot more planning, since change may not be available, and both sides would need to make sure they’re getting a fair deal.

Moreover, if you’re using silver coins minted before 1965 (a.k.a. junk silver), people will almost certainly recognize them and may be likelier to accept them as a bartering commodity.

Winner: Silver

2. Divisibility

Gold Bars & Silver & Gold Coins Stacked up

This ties in with the first point: since silver is less expensive per ounce, it’s easier to divide into manageable units that fit small-to-medium transactions.

Meanwhile, if you need to trade for several everyday items but only have a single one-ounce gold bar (worth about $2,700 today), you might be stuck with a highly valuable piece of metal that you can’t split into pieces.

Thus, you may be unable to acquire the goods or services that you theoretically could afford.

That’s one reason why buying the biggest gold bars on the market may be a mistake, even if they come with a low premium. Flat, easily divisible CombiBars are a lot more practical for exchange.

Winner: Silver

3. Portability

1kg Silver & 4 1 ounces of gold

Today, one kilogram of silver is worth under $1,000, while the same weight of gold costs close to $87,000. Plus, gold is a lot denser than silver, so even a small amount of gold packs a major store of value.

This is a major advantage when you’re packing your bug-out bag and have limited space, or when you’re traveling in an unsafe area and want to sew some precious metal into your coat lining.

A few gold coins are easier to carry and hide than a whole box of silver.

However, it’s still a good idea to carry at least some silver when traveling in an SHTF situation. You may want to barter on the go, and it’s usually a bad idea to let random strangers see your gold.

Winner: Gold

4. Stability

Gold and silver bars

Silver is generally a more volatile metal than gold. Its prices shift more sharply, and it’s more susceptible to market fluctuations.

Both gold and silver are universally valued precious metals that have retained their intrinsic worth for millennia.

However, the value of silver is less stable since, unlike gold, it also has industrial uses (like solar panels and electronics). It can be hard to predict how this demand may peak or plummet during a crisis.

Meanwhile, gold is pretty much only a store of value.

Its prices can move up and down, but it keeps its worth pretty steadily. Gold will remain valuable no matter how long you hold on to it, and you’ll probably always be able to exchange it for a fair amount of assets.

So gold is hands-down the best choice for preserving wealth in an economic collapse.

Winner: Gold

5. Storage

Gold Coins

Since even a small amount of gold holds significant value, it will need less storage space. You can easily hide a few gold pieces under a loose floorboard, in a hollowed-out book, or inside a power outlet.

In contrast, you’ll need a lot more silver to establish an equivalent store of wealth. Since it’s advisable to split your precious metal stash between several locations inside your home, you’ll have to get creative when storing silver.

It will take up more space, and you’ll need to keep up with all the spots where you hid your coins or bars.

Additionally, gold is a highly stable metal that won’t rust, tarnish, or oxidize even if it remains buried for thousands of years. In contrast, silver is prone to tarnishing, especially when kept in high-moisture conditions.

Storing silver in sealed containers or ziplock bags will slow tarnishing, and you can always polish up silver coins and bars, but stashing gold still involves less hassle.

Winner: Gold

6. Affordability

Silver dollars

Although gold will always retain its worth, many people may be unable to afford it, especially if a crisis is looming ahead or already unfolding.

This goes both ways, whether you’re purchasing precious metals for a future catastrophe or offering gold for barter in an SHTF situation.

Gold is expensive, so if you have limited funds, you should prioritize stockpiling food, medical supplies, and other essentials that will be worth their weight in gold during a crisis.

Plus, even if an amount of gold is theoretically enough to get you a major stash of food or a valuable asset like land, you might struggle to find someone who’s willing to trade resources for metal on a large scale when supply chains have collapsed.

Silver, on the other hand, is fairly affordable, so you can invest small amounts here and there and accumulate a useful stash for bartering without breaking the bank.

Winner: Silver

7. Trust

Keep Coins or Small Silver Pieces for Everyday Trade

Both gold and silver are widely recognized, but gold carries a higher risk of counterfeiting because of its value.

If you’re bartering in a remote community, the people you trade with might find it difficult to confirm that a piece of gold is genuine. Professional testing kits might be unavailable, and not everyone can spot fake gold at a glance.

Meanwhile, silver is a lot more widespread, and the average person can identify its look, feel, and sound a lot more easily. Additionally, there’s less incentive to counterfeit silver, so people aren’t as likely to suspect the coin or bar you offer for bartering.

Winner: Silver

Gold vs Silver - Which Is Best For SHTF Scenarios?
Anna Twitto

Anna Twitto

Anna Twitto is a nutritionist and self-reliance enthusiast. Anna loves sharing knowledge about real food, homemade remedies, and handy preparedness skills. You’ll usually find her tinkering around the kitchen or hanging out with her four kids and flock of backyard hens.