Anonymous
PMs are primarily a store of value. In a runaway inflation, when law and order prevail, they are a better money than paper and likely better than barter, easier for sure. In this case PMs are a hedge against the loss of value your bank accounts and your cash in hand are taking. I’m sure that PMs were much preferable to a wheelbarrow of worthless paper money during the 1923 German hyperinflation period. I’m also sure that a few gold coins worked to bribe, say an SS captain, to let a family escape Germany on a train many times during WWII. I think when bribery is called for, gold will likely work better than anything else.
You could say that food is a store of value, in some circumstances anyway. Without law and order then I agree with Selco that skills/services, food, meds, OTC meds, etc. are better than PMs. Unless you already have sufficient quantities of these necessities in which case you could afford to take PMs. If I had say 20 lbs of tomatoes that were going to spoil in a couple days I would certainly trade for some gold and silver coins, especially if there was nothing else I needed more available for trade. Flexibility.
There are circumstances where PMs are better than goods/services and circumstances where goods/services are better than PMs. If you can afford to have both, why not.
See these two articles on barter by Selco.
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/selco-store-trade-barter/
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/selco-barter-trade-shtf-economy/