The true precious metals in a TEOTWAWKI situation

I see so many posts about saving silver and gold to use as trade items after TSHTF, but other than decorative uses they're really not that valuable in a hunkered down, survival situation.

Bronze, Brass, Tin, Copper, Iron, Lead - all these can be worked into tools (or bullets for the Lead). A charcoal kiln - for making charcoal - can be built on a homestead, and if you construct your forging/melting station right, burns hot enough to even melt iron - which is why some blacksmiths still use it.

These are the real 'precious' metals in my mind. Any tool you might want can be cast up from bronze or iron. You can copper-coat your cast bullets yourself. The uses are limited only by imagination and your skill.

I've learned sand and lost-wax casting from a blacksmith who uses those techniques to add embellishments in Bronze, Brass, Tin and Copper to some of his works. To make a hammer or shovel is just a matter of sizing up - and I've seen him cast a solid Bronze sword, so it is doable.

What are your thoughts on this?

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The true precious metals in a TEOTWAWKI situation