The value of gold, silver, or any other precious metal or gem is ethereal. Their practical value is quite limited, and in a severe economic crisis, they will be practically useless. Lead would be far more valuable, at least for the people I hang with.

Value by proxy is never a good hedge against economic catastrophe. People look for things that will immediately help them get by, and couldn't care less about paper rectangles, small metal disks, or body ornaments.

$100 worth of 22 lr ammo in today's market will be worth ten times or more their value if things get desperate. But of more immediate value will be basics like food, water, mobility, communication, etc.