In a post-apocalyptic world, the banking system as we know it would completely collapse. The survivors would have to rely mainly on the barter system for trade in goods and services.
In a barter situation, each party will trade based on the perceived value instead of a market value as it is today. This means that potentially any household item would have some kind of value. Many household items that rely on electricity would be devalued. Computers, cell phones, electric appliances, etc. would have very little value in that world.
The survivors will most likely not be as trusting, especially if there is a lack of law enforcement. Farms and homes will be subject to the threat of attacks by groups of pillagers. There would be riots in the jails and prisons which would result in prisoner escapes. Some cities will be overrun by hundreds, if not thousands of deadly psychopaths. Any type of weapon which could be used for self defense would come at a high premium.
The long term survivors would adapt to a more agrarian lifestyle. Livestock, and farming implements would definitely be highly valued. If you look back to the pre-industrialized world, you would see that the same things which were valuable at that time, would be valuable in a post-apocalyptic world as well. 998
Any practical hand tool that is well made would have value. There was a time when you couldn't run down to the hardware store and buy a hammer. You would have to go to the blacksmith and have one forged. These tools were often passed down as family heirlooms because of their expense. The same thing would be true in a post-apocalyptic world as well.
Some simple things that we take for granted now, were very valuable to early colonists. Nails at one time were nearly worth their weight in gold. Each nail had to be hand forged by a blacksmith, and the process was very labor intensive. When the homesteaders decided to move, they often would burn down their homes to recover the nails so they could build a new home. Since the factories that produce these items would all be shut down after the apocalypse, there would be a limited supply and would in turn be valued. The value would most likely increase over a long period of time if we do not return to an industrialized world.
In this world, most durable goods will have some value. For most people, hoarding and stockpiling these objects would not be very practical due to the fact that many people will end up living a nomadic lifestyle. I suspect many outdoor sporting goods would be very useful. Specialty items such as lightweight eating and cooking utensils, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, blankets, and coats would be items that a survivor would not want to part with.
In the end, it would be difficult to say for sure which items would be the most valuable, but it is probably safe to say that baseball cards would never be highly valued or sought after. 658