Definitely. I think it'd be a big surprise too that paper bills would become very valuable, especially at first. ATMs go down, no one has any money, stores still full of goods. We'd still immediately need a way to trade and with atms out, it'd be whoever had bills. In a sustained scenario, the government would need to print a ton of new bills to pay its soldiers and servants and maintain authority.
Definitely. I think it'd be a big surprise too that paper bills would become very valuable, especially at first. ATMs go down, no one has any money, stores still full of goods. We'd still immediately need a way to trade and with atms out, it'd be whoever had bills. In a sustained scenario, the government would need to print a ton of new bills to pay its soldiers and servants and maintain authority.
I've read some distopian novels where junk silver (pre-1964 quarters and dimes) and .22 ammo became currency.
"Alas Babylon" is a scary fictional, "Light's Out" by Ted Koppel may keep you up at night...
Toilet Paper, and Booze - cheaper to acquire and will definitely be in high demand in the case of grid-down.