Exactly. Gold is of little use DURING the hard times. It a way to move your wealth THROUGH the collapse and have it ready to convert into the new money when the hard times end.

Before my wife's family escaped China they had spent several years turning every bit of spare yuan (Chinese money) into gold rings. When they finally made a break for it (a hell of a story in its own right) the rings were sewn into their clothing. In each country they passed through the gold was easily converted into local currency, something they couldn't have done with yuans.

-Blast