What I never understood is what good gold will do you in a global catastrophe. You can't eat it. It's actually pretty heavy, so it's hard to pack around. You can't build a shelter with it. Maybe you could make bullets out of it, or hit someone over the head with a smaller sized ingot, but that's about the best use I can find for it. At least paper money has the advantage of being lighter.
Pound for pound, I think I would invest in whiskey if the world is really going down the pooper.
I would go with the silver myself. That is the best defense against lycanthropes and vampires.
The hierarchy of needs. First, let's make sure people have the ability to have a roof over their heads, clothes, health care, transportation, and food.
Then worry about letting people get some nice things.