2 Idaho Goldback - Alpha Edition (α) | Aurum Gold Foil Note (24k)

Boise is home to one of the largest Basque communities in the United States, and the 2 Idaho is where that history is set in gold. The design was reviewed with input from representatives of the Idaho Basque Museum, which is not something most bullion products can claim, and it shows in the detail.

The artwork

The virtue is Civitas, Community. At the centre, a Basque woman performs the traditional hoop dance Uztai Txiki (Arco Dantza). Beneath her feet sits the Boise Basque cross, the locally recognised lauburu design.

The scene around her is Boise and the country that fed it:

• The Boise Mountains and a flock of sheep, for the daily labour of Basque immigrants who worked as shepherds across Idaho's open ranges.
• The Idaho State Capitol, standing behind the dancer.
• The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the anchor of the community in Boise today.

The principle carried on the note is Basque, and it fits Idaho: "Denon artean egina, erraz egina" — what is done together is done easily.

Who this note suits

The 2 holds 1/500 of a troy ounce of 24-carat gold: twice the 1, eight times the ¼. That makes it a useful working denomination for a set — enough gold to feel like something in the hand, small enough to buy several at a time, and a strong single note to give to anyone with Basque or Idaho ties.

The trade-off is the premium, and it is worth stating plainly. The cost of the artwork, the foil manufacturing and the distribution is spread across a small quantity of gold, so any Goldback sells for considerably more than the melt value of the metal inside it. If gold per pound spent is your only measure, a Britannia, a Sovereign or a cast bar will beat this note every time. Buy the 2 for the design, the format and the set it belongs to.

UK buyer notes

Yard Mint supplies Goldbacks from UK stock. They are treated as VAT-exempt investment-gold wafers, so there is no VAT to add at checkout.

Goldbacks are not UK legal tender. They can be bought, owned, sold, collected and voluntarily exchanged where both parties agree, but no UK business is required to accept one. They also do not share the Capital Gains Tax exemption that applies to Britannias and post-1837 Sovereigns, which are sterling currency. VAT and CGT are separate questions with different answers.

Resale depends on the gold price, the condition of the note and buyer demand at the time. A collector premium is not guaranteed.

This is general information, not personal tax or investment advice. Tax treatment depends on current rules and individual circumstances.

• Contains 1/500 troy oz (0.002 oz) of 24-carat gold.
• Grade: (U) Crisp Uncirculated
• Edition: Alpha (α)
• Metal content: 0.002 troy oz
• Purity: .999
• Thickness: 0.10 mm
• Manufactured in the USA.

The Idaho Series

Each denomination carries its own original artwork and a proportional quantity of 24-carat gold. View all Idaho Goldbacks, read the Idaho collector guide, or browse every Goldback series.