Post-apocalyptic Gold Reserves

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Raellus

This article could fit equally well in the this forum and the one dedicated to the Morrow Project. I wasn't quite sure which existing thread to put it in either. I hadn't heard of this complex/plan before. The site could certainly make for an interesting encounter, if not serve as the lynchpin for a major CONUS campaign.

http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-f...401.1411513010

Hah! I was just reading this article and came here to post the link. Look what I found. You beat me to it, Rae

[Rainbow Six]

A lower profile but no less important campaign might be for either Milgov or Civgov (or both) to send out teams to try and locate the printing plates used to produce banknotes. Clearly it may not be possible to recreate every security detail that exists on current banknotes but the printing plates would help to create something that looks the part.

Whilst I think we're all agreed that in the year 2000 paper money may have little to no value in itself, where there are two rival bodies claiming to be the Government whichever faction can manufacture new bank notes at some point in the future when paper money is starting to have value scores an advantage in its claim to be the legitimate Government.

Similar recovery efforts could take place in other countries.

[kalos72]

I think paper money is going to keep a very negative image with most people after its collapse. Coin, either precious or not, will come back and become the standard.

I was researching the other day where the gold and silver dollars are printed and if anyone else prints similar coins/rounds for sale. Might make another good campaign....

[stormlion1]

I could see jewelry being gathered up and melted down into trade bars as well. May not be pure but it would be good enough for low level trade. And smelting it isn't that hard.

[Damocles]

Originally Posted by kalos72

I think paper money is going to keep a very negative image with most people after its collapse.

Except for among TW2K PCs, who will have inevitably computed their load to the last kg. There it will be welcome with open arms.

[unkated]

A couple points...

• CivGov would certainly push the continued use of the Greenback as a means of keeping normality.
  
• It would eventually sink in with the general population that there is no inherent value in paper money.
  
• However, in places where things are reasonably normal - meaning there is enough food, and a fairly wide variety of goods available for which one can exchange (and re-exchange) greenbacks, their use may continue. Paper cash is a promise that there will be normality again, for which cash can go back to having value.
  
• In places where there is scarcity, fewer people will be less inclined to use a medium of exchange (paper cash) they may not be able to use. however convenient it is to carry.
  
• CivGov or Milgov can (and in my opinion likely will), of course, wreck the value of cash themselves by printing as much as they need to pay for things, triggering runaway infaltion themselves. This is likely to be a localized issue - say in the greater Denver area, and can occur multiple times.

Uncle Ted

[Targan]

If CivGov wanted to keep using Greenbacks, perhaps they'd try to control the amount of their own "official" currency in circulation by stamping existing pre-war paper money with a particular pattern and a particular kind of ink. Not foolproof obviously, but better than having local economies disrupted every time a bunch of bandits manages to break into an abandoned bank vault or armored car.

[WallShadow]

Originally Posted by Targan

If CivGov wanted to keep using Greenbacks, perhaps they'd try to control the amount of their own "official" currency in circulation by stamping existing pre-war paper money with a particular pattern and a particular kind of ink.

Sounds like the "Aloha" currency printed for the Hawaiian Islands in the threat of Japanese invasion/occupation at the start of WW2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_overprint_note