Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

Is buying or selling goods for gold or silver considered taxable?
This isn't new. Even before silver hit $50 in 1980, silver coins were worth 3-4X face value for 'junk' silver.  There were people writing articles on how one could sell their house and specify a lower price, but paid in silver coins. Since silver coins have a face value, it was suggested that this was a legitimate process.  These people also suggested that if you paid your tax bill in silver coins, the IRS won't credit you for for than face value, ergo, the deal was legit.  As littleadv responded, it's barter. And barter is taxable. And once again, "if it quacks like a duck...."