Rather than a conspiracy, could this family simply comprise people who recognise gold as a store of value, likely sucking it up at $200/oz and in particular use gold as a stepping stone through times like these, when paper currencies are abused?
Yesterday I was trying to explain to my friend how inflation and the creation of money are a secret tax on the savings of everyone, aided by the long-term mis-reporting of inflation rates, and the elimination of study of money supply / inflation cause and effect from economic education. For example, in the 1970s here in UK, although I had little interest, I remember the money supply figures were reported daily on mainstream news, yet they are unheard of now.
As a fun booklet, I found it interesting to read through Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, which includes an account of Law's notes in France - a history of popular folly by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay, first published in 1841
I think it can be read online at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/24518
I think 'specie' is the term used herein for gold and ?silver? - but I may be wrong.
