I went to that site and searched for merchants and found there isn't anyone within 2000 miles of me that takes Shire cards as payment. It's a nice concept, but even bitcoin is more widely accepted.
Also, the guy in the video confesses he uses a "silly straw" to measure out the gold on his picnic table. That's not encouraging.
Also, the guy in the video confesses he uses a "silly straw" to measure out the gold on his picnic table. That's not encouraging.
LOL, I'm the guy in the video, and using a silly straw helps me to make them inexpensively. In fact, anyone can make their own - that's one of the points of it. That allows its production to be more decentralized, as in anyone can start their own version for their area. Instructions are on the site. I've called it the drug dealer model of production and distribution in that if enough people are doing it then there's no point going after them since you'd never stop it.
And just like with bitcoin, the merchant network is really what makes it valuable. Its just that with bitcoin it has an inherent virality and ease of Internet use that makes getting lots of web based merchants on board, whereas Shire Silver is physical and needs locals promoting it. If I had a tenth as many people half as devoted to Shire Silver as bitcoin has, there'd probably be hundreds of places near you accepting it.