There actually is a thriving market for average joe bullion. There are two shops in my large town/county hub.
It is tied in with coin collecting. Private mints produce coinage to sell at exorbitant prices, simply because it's a brilliant Zombie coin. I suppose that if you've been buying precious metals for some time, and it is sensibly affordable, sure a zombie strike would be boss! Ha, ha, ha, forgive me. Sensible options include the 1oz .9999 fine silver, US mint produced Walking Liberty, often priced only slightly above spot.
So there just might be a LOT of people and merchants ready to accept precious metals for services and trade.