if my dear old bat of a Chem teacher didn't missteach me and if he were totally blind regarding the periodical table of elements I was taught that Gold was 13 times heavier then lead, so how could they differ just one proton??
Also, if the theory might just work, (I mean, take it this way, everything can be tried) how would you top it from bursting into smittereens?? Gold and Lead differ in more then one thing then Protons, there also Neutrons to account for, to nullify the amount of positive energy in the core, which clearly can't be nullified by electrons alone.
Then again, I might be off a little...