If you imagine a 'simple' economy, the way to store your wealth is to buy gold and stick it in a safe. In a 'simple' economy, gold is the least risky commodity

If you imagine a 'simple' economy, the way to store your wealth is to buy gold and stick it in a safe. In a 'simple' economy, gold is the least risky commodity of exchange. Now consider that US treasuries are arguably less risky than gold, and are easier to exchange. US debt is basically like "big-boy cash".