God forbid something like this happen, but I was wondering what if the U.S.' status as a hyper-power nation fell, for example if we were taken over by the Chinese say for example. I'm sure we woudlnt just lay down arms and give up just like that, and if it ever came down to it, most of the world's population would go. I would personally rather die than learn a 250,000 character alphabet. But let's say if the U.S. ceased to exist, as many other nations who have ruled thousands of years have fallen, what would happen to the value of US coinage? I notice there are byzantine empire coins worth nothing. Would U.S. coin value come to the same fate as these lost empires?
Heheh, some Roman legionnaire around AD 80 was probably having the same conversation with his buddy about his denarius collection
All collectors will be denounced as "hoarders" and declared enemies of the State. After a fair trial we will all be shot.
CADDOG, What you should worry more about is the implementation of a global currency. It's more likely to happen and is already being discussed. I believe the BIS (Bank for International Settlements - the central bank to the central banks) brought up the issue again recently. Gold and silver coins, and rare coins would probably retain value. Common clad coins could be hurt. The good news is that you can start a new collection of the various denominations of "International Special Drawing Rights." Who knows what sort of design that baby will have!
The day that we as a country lay down and roll over is the day that we all better sell some gold/silver and take arms! The fight will be brutal, bloody and unforgiving. All precious metals will be confiscated melted and re-coined for the ruling Country...the dollar will have 0.00 value..food, water and bullets will be hot items! They will get my gold when they pry my cold dead fingers off the trigger!!
I don't know how we could ever fight a war with China without it going nuclear pretty quick. Discussing a war with them is just discussing whose rubble is going to bounce longer. A bigger threat to the United States, IMO, is our debt economy and what happens when it collapses. There's personal debt, state debt, city debt the national debt ect. Our "economy" is a freaking joke. It's nothing but a pile of debt. What happens when millions of people can't make interest payments on their $250,000 credit card line but are still expected to do so anyway, "or else." A Shays rebellion in all 50 states all at the same time, IMO, is the biggest threat to this country.
Nukes; now that's a new aspect. If a nuke went off within 50 miles, which coins would melt first ? Does gold have the lowest melting point ?
Melting points: Gold---1063C Silver--961C Copper-1083C Nickel--1455C Aluminum-660C Palladium-1555C Platinum--1773C Bear in mind that these figures are for pure metals. The alloys will have slightly different melt temps.
Well, human beings have a boiling point of a bit over 100 degrees Celsius, and at that point I wouldn't worry too much about the metal coins The three posts above kind of remind me of On The Beach. Fantastic book; read it if you get a chance.
Before you worry about China, you should worry about the 1000's of illegals that are entering this country everyday! Borders, Language, and Culture...lose one, then the next, and sooner than later, you have NO COUNTRY. Our coin collection values will be the LEAST of our worries. I will NOT stick my head in the sand and hope the bad guys go away (like an ostrich), I choose to fight for my country and my family today. I had enough of the sensitivity approach to our enemies because no amount of money and therapy will ever change our enemies' minds. So...I will deal with them and fight them with every fiber of my body. Worry about your coin collection? You should worry about the enemies of the free world.
Not too much need for a 45 year old in the arm services. If I could go, I would want to fight with the Mountain Division fighting in Afghanistan. But then again, if my country drafted me, I WOULD go...as I stated, I am not about to stick my head in the sand and ask (nicely) our enemies to stop killing us.
I work with chinese people ( no not chinese americans, chinese-chinese in china they are actually very nice people, very industrious. Its like the wild west over there, beleive it or not capitolism is alive and well on the streets of shanghai. China will become a world super-power, we just need to learn how to deal with it. guess who's bank-rolling our little war... as a side note, moderators? where are you? this is not really a US coins topic...