[Travis McGee]

I see the three risers, but still, the load does not extend out over the side risers. It's a sheer strength problem, not only compression. The sheer strength of those horizontal wooden floors is only a fraction of their compressive strength.

[river rat]

NOW - I see your point...
The entire stack height weight WOULD be better distributed if the bars were loaded to put more weight directly over the side risers.....avoiding or minimized exposure to shear forces being applied to any of the bridging planks.

I suspect the bars are being INTENTIONALY stacked inside the perimeter to prevent damage/loss of gold due to impacts. Another possibility is the clown who designed the pallet or wrote the loading procedure, screwed up!

Interesting problem --
If I had that much gold to stack -- I'm certain I would want a more sophisticated stacking technique!

Semper Fi