The trouble with metals is going to be your ability to trade them safely. In the immediacy of the boogaloo they aren't going to be worth much and may prove detrimental to you as a lure for those willing to plunder. Once things quiet down, there is a chance that people will gravitate toward them as specie but that requires either a cold breakdown or for things to stabilize enough that markets are open and safe enough to barter openly.
If you wish to safeguard your family in the event of a breakdown, you require assets; assets that enable you to procure life-necessities. Investing in a simple thing like a distillery would enable you to procure potable water from rain-collection or even the gnarliest river in your area. Similarly, things like canning-equipment, vacuum-packers, and seeds will prove more valuable to you and your family than a commodity item. Similarly items like guns, ammunition, gasoline, and camping equipment will prove more useful than shiny rocks when the grocery store is closed with no reopening in sight. Another excellent option is to invest in small livestock (rabbits, chickens). They are easy to care for and require a very small footprint to manage and the best part is that they reproduce naturally. My personal preference is toward chickens because one can collect eggs daily but rabbits can only be harvested once (though they do reproduce quickly).
There's "junk" silver or bulk old coin (pre 1964 for U.S). Some people sell breakable silver and gold bars that break to ten dollars U.S; read the novel "Alas Babylon" and "Farnham's Freehold" for an interesting late 1950's view of post-apocalyptic America.
I do believe in gold as a practical currency, but the gentleman wishes to secure his family in the event of a supply-chain breakdown; as much as I like the idea of paying for my milk and bacon with hard money, a man cannot eat coins. Physical, sustainable security is more valuable than financial security. Consider too that once established, he may trade those goods that he produces for the gold that he would otherwise be spending after the fact.
I will check out those books, though, there isn't enough attention paid to books written in that transitional period.
You'll starve eating too much rabbit if that's all you eat. Chickens would be better IMHO. The body needs fat, rabbits have no fat.
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