But in a true SHTF situation they're not worth much. Just what I heard from survivors of seriously bad situations. Mostly Soviet relatives living through the joys of communism and Nazism.
People with limited ability to buy things in an indefinite emergency situation aren't going to give you much for even an ounce of gold. You need things useful on their own, not just a good store of value. A propane stove/heater, batteries, medical supplies, water purifier, cigarettes, liquor, lighters, maps, tools, ammo. These things will be worth more than their weight in gold.
Precious metals are always worth something. In a real SHTF situation they still have value. Prisoners in German concentration camps used small bits of gold to buy food from other prisoners. They are never worth nothing.