If you intend to use gold during a crisis, buy it in the form of wedding rings. Nothing fancy, just simple gold bands, preferably in your size. Nobody thinks twice about the person who pulls the wedding ring off their finger and uses it to barter with, that person looks just as desperate as everyone else. Nobody needs to know that you have five more of them in your pocket.
Brilliant idea about the gold rings. ;)
Walk through, pick things up, check the price, put some back, buy a very few basics and pay with small bills, change look as if you are not quite on your last legs, but certainly like you are squeezed hard.
Look like you are on your last legs you are a target, look like you don't need anything your home is a target.