so this is how it ends ...heh ...??, page-27

So true, but even if you hold companies with plenty of cash, then you end up in the same boat. They'll lose their money too in a bank crash. How will they operate then? IGV is fine, but what happens when you can't get the stuff out? You need money to pay employees & other bills.

Companies holding bullion could be another option as it's already been taken out of the ground. Again though, where is it stored? Can it be accessed?