As long as there are government produced and sanctioned currencies, holding gold is risky. If were ever return to a gold standard, any holders of the metal would be in trouble. However, if everything falls appart and we enter into a bartering system, those who posses gold would be, well, golden.
Don't forget that when we talk about the value of gold, we price it in fiat currency terms.
As long as there are government produced and sanctioned currencies, holding gold is risky. If were ever return to a gold standard, any holders of the metal would be in trouble.