If the future of the USA is a grim as most of us think it is, what will happen to my investments in gold and silver??

I have a bit over $20,000 in coinage which I bought over the years and now I'm kinda wondering what the hell I was thinking!  I have no clue what to do with these coins should the entire federal monetary situation go into the toilet, where it is certainly headed at this point.

Anyone care to explain to me what to do now?  If I cash out these coins and cash becomes useless (as it surely will) won't the coins be worthless for me to use as well?  Sure I could barter them, but with whom? Only the people who already have money (paper) will be able to buy them from me right now, but the currency will be useless in the future.  So how is owning gold or silver (coins) going to help me in the future??