"Pat Flannery" wrote

Shouldn't that be the other way around? the gold would weigh less as you
approached the equator due to the spinning of the Earth causing
centrifugal force on it.

Exactly what was intended. As it was weighed closer to the equator, it
would weigh less, thus making the people who owned the gold think that
someone had been taking some of it during shipment.
--
Jim in NC