Gold has no value in tough times (IMO)
People who say gold would be worthless in extremely bad times have to be seriously deficient in historical knowledge. Of all the empire collapses, plagues, barbarian invasions, wars and famines in history that would make anything that could happen today look like a cakewalk gold could be used to buy things.
It could buy you everything from food, to mercenaries, to women to a crown and a throne. In fact the harder the times the better the prices.