The Goldback program grew from six states to nine between late 2025 and early 2026, adding Oklahoma, Arizona, and Idaho in quick succession. Each series carries its own designs, virtues, and collector angles. Idaho also introduced two firsts for the program: the first-ever 1/4 denomination Goldback, and the final series to include the 100 denomination before Goldback, Inc. announced its discontinuation.
This guide covers the denominations, designs, gold content, and pricing for all three series.
What Are Goldbacks?
Goldbacks are privately issued notes from Goldback, Inc. that bond .9999 fine 24-karat gold between thin polymer layers using Valaurum’s patented Aurum process. Each note contains a specific amount of gold tied to its denomination. They work as both fractional bullion products and a voluntary medium of exchange, and are recognized as specie legal tender in Utah, Nevada, New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Florida. For a full primer on how Goldbacks are made, where they’re accepted, and how premiums work, see our complete Goldbacks guide.
Oklahoma Goldbacks (2025)
Oklahoma became the seventh state in the Goldback lineup when the series was unveiled at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Oklahoma City in August 2025. The designs draw from Oklahoma’s history as Indian Territory, the 1889 Land Run, oil boom heritage, and Route 66 culture. The set runs eight standard denominations plus a limited-edition 3 Goldback (Ingenium), the first 3-denomination note in the Goldback program, capped at 4,000 pieces.
Oklahoma Designs and Virtues
| Denom | Gold Content | Virtue | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 1/2000 oz | Honestas (Honor) | A young drover guiding cattle along the Chisholm Trail |
| 1 | 1/1000 oz | Perseverantia (Perseverance) | A pioneer woman on horseback at the 1889 Land Run |
| 2 | 1/500 oz | Benevolentia (Kindness) | A Cherokee mother in a traditional tear dress |
| 5 | 1/200 oz | Industria (Industry) | The oil fields, referencing the 1905 Glenn Pool strike |
| 10 | 1/100 oz | Unitas (Unity) | Intertribal powwow dancers (Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized tribes) |
| 25 | 1/40 oz | Hospitalitas (Hospitality) | A 1960 Chevrolet Impala cruising Route 66 |
| 50 | 1/20 oz | Vigilantia (Vigilance) | A figure kneeling as a tornado crosses the prairie |
| 100 | 1/10 oz | Libertas (Liberty) | A tribute to the 45th Infantry Division “Thunderbirds” |
For the full breakdown including pricing, premiums, and the limited 3 Goldback, see our dedicated Oklahoma Goldbacks guide.
Arizona Goldbacks (2025)
Arizona was the eighth state in the series, with notes shipping from November 2025. The designs pull from the state’s desert geography, frontier history, Native American heritage, and scientific achievements. Arizona follows the expanded eight-denomination structure (1/2 through 100) introduced with the Florida series, and also includes a limited-edition 3 Goldback.
Arizona Designs and Virtues
| Denom | Gold Content | Virtue | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 1/2000 oz | Gratia (Grace) | Seated in meditation, holding a candle representing enlightenment and humility |
| 1 | 1/1000 oz | Temperantia (Temperance) | A woman in a flowing dress celebrating Southwestern and Mexican culture |
| 2 | 1/500 oz | A female explorer piloting a boat along an Arizona river | |
| 5 | 1/200 oz | Lex et Ordo (Law and Order) | Tombstone’s lawmen and frontier justice |
| 10 | 1/100 oz | Virtus (Strength) | A rider on horseback carrying a flag |
| 25 | 1/40 oz | Tenacitas (Tenacity) | The Lost Dutchman Mine legend in the Superstition Mountains |
| 50 | 1/20 oz | Curiositas (Curiosity) | The discovery of Pluto at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff (1930) |
| 100 | 1/10 oz | Libertas (Liberty) | The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II |
Arizona covers more historical ground than most state series. The 50 Goldback’s Pluto discovery scene (Clyde Tombaugh, Flagstaff, 1930) and the 100’s tribute to the Navajo Code Talkers make two of the most distinctive individual notes in the program. The 25, depicting a treasure hunter pursuing the Lost Dutchman Mine through the Superstition Mountains, ties Arizona’s gold-country mythology directly into a gold-content product.
Idaho Goldbacks (2026)
Idaho is the ninth state in the Goldback lineup. Preorders opened in March 2026. The series is the first to include a 1/4 denomination Goldback (containing 1/4000 oz of gold) and the last to include a 100 denomination before Goldback, Inc. retired it from future releases.
All nine Idaho designs were created by artist Paul Pederson using live models, with input from Idaho community members including the State Treasurer. Each note tells a specific story from Idaho’s past, from Sacagawea and the Lewis and Clark expedition to the first nuclear-generated electricity at the Experimental Breeder Reactor in Arco.
Idaho Designs and Virtues
| Denom | Gold Content | Virtue | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1/4000 oz | Justitia (Justice) | Scales, sword, and blindfold before Hells Canyon. First-ever 1/4 Goldback. |
| 1/2 | 1/2000 oz | Pietas (Devotion) | Sacagawea at Lemhi Pass with her infant son during the Lewis and Clark expedition |
| 1 | 1/1000 oz | Fides (Faith) | A pioneer mother and child on the California Trail at the City of Rocks |
| 2 | 1/500 oz | Civitas (Community) | A Basque woman performing a traditional hoop dance in Boise |
| 5 | 1/200 oz | Clementia (Mercy) | Replanting saplings near Wallace, Idaho, after the Great Fire of 1910 |
| 10 | 1/100 oz | Perseverantia (Perseverance) | Silver City mining scene in the Owyhee Mountains |
| 25 | 1/40 oz | Scientia (Knowledge) | The first nuclear-generated electricity at EBR-I, Arco, Idaho (December 20, 1951) |
| 50 | 1/20 oz | Patientia (Patience) | Fly fishing at Redfish Lake below the Sawtooth Mountains |
| 100 | 1/10 oz | Libertas (Liberty) | Shoshone Falls and the Snake River Valley. Final 100 Goldback. |
Idaho’s 100 Goldback introduces front-facing UV technology. Under a blacklight, the halo-crown of Libertas illuminates in blue, a step beyond the rear-facing UV features used in earlier series.
Denomination and Gold Content Reference
All three states share the same gold content per denomination. The one structural difference is Idaho’s addition of the 1/4 note.
| Denomination | Gold Content | Troy Oz | Approx. Melt Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1/4000 oz | 0.00025 oz | $1.02 |
| 1/2 | 1/2000 oz | 0.0005 oz | $2.03 |
| 1 | 1/1000 oz | 0.001 oz | $4.06 |
| 2 | 1/500 oz | 0.002 oz | $8.13 |
| 3 | 1/333 oz | ~0.003 oz | $12.19 |
| 5 | 1/200 oz | 0.005 oz | $20.31 |
| 10 | 1/100 oz | 0.01 oz | $40.63 |
| 25 | 1/40 oz | 0.025 oz | $101.57 |
| 50 | 1/20 oz | 0.05 oz | $203.14 |
| 100 | 1/10 oz | 0.10 oz | $406.29 |
Melt values update with live spot. Goldbacks trade well above melt due to manufacturing cost, anti-counterfeit features, and collector demand. Smaller denominations carry higher percentage premiums (the 1/2 often trades at 100-200% over melt), while premiums compress on larger notes (the 100 typically runs 90-110% over melt). Dealer-to-dealer spreads on Goldbacks are wider than on most bullion products, so comparing prices across sellers before buying can save several dollars per note.
What Collectors Should Know
The 100 denomination is being retired. Goldback, Inc. has announced the 100 Goldback will not appear in future state series. Idaho is the last to include one, which means existing 100-denomination notes from earlier states are already attracting added collector attention.
Idaho’s 1/4 Goldback is a first. No previous state series included a 1/4 denomination. At 1/4000 oz of gold, it is the smallest Goldback produced to date and offers the lowest dollar entry point in the program.
Limited 3 Goldbacks are scarce. Both Oklahoma and Arizona released limited 3-denomination notes. Oklahoma’s Ingenium was capped at 4,000 pieces. These limited notes tend to trade above standard premiums once initial dealer inventory sells through.
Alpha vs. standard editions. All three states launched with Alpha editions (first print runs). Alpha Goldbacks carry subtle production differences and are sought after by collectors building complete sets. Standard editions follow once Alpha inventory is exhausted.
Compare Goldback Prices
Goldback premiums vary more from dealer to dealer than most bullion products. Checking multiple sources before buying is worth the effort.
Browse all Goldbacks | Gold spot price | Gold price per gram
Goldback Guides
- What Are Goldbacks? The Complete Guide
- Oklahoma Goldbacks: Guide to the Sooner State Series
- Florida Goldbacks Include New Denominations
- Goldback ATM Machines
- Specie Legal Tender Explained
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not financial advice. Precious metals carry risk and past performance of collectible bullion does not predict future returns. FindBullionPrices.com is a price comparison platform and does not sell bullion directly.
