Gold protects wealth for AFTER the crisis.  For barter, you want mundane useful stuff that won't be available--booze, batteries, antibiotics, aspirin, coffee, buttwipe, tampons, etc.  Everyday people won't know how to tell if gold/silver coins/bars are real and can't eat metal.  If you have a stash of real trade goods (and are well armed), you will be able to get gold and silver cheap from formerly wealthy fools that have no preps.