5 Nevada Goldback | Aurum Gold Foil Note (24k)

Nevada was the first state to adopt the 15th Amendment, and the 5 Goldback sets its words on an open scroll among the books and instruments at Sophia's feet. This is Wisdom's first appearance in the series.

The artwork

The virtue is Sophia, Wisdom, rendered here as Athena. She stands for divine inspiration and progress, and the design packs the space around her with Nevada's own inventions, technologies and seats of learning.

Her armour follows the Athena convention — raised helm, arm guards and breastplate, shield and spear — with Wisdom's owl worked into the gorget at her throat. The pick axe in her hand is the Nevada addition, standing for the mining that shaped the state's development.

Every Nevada design carries a pillar. Sophia stands on an open book supported by hers, and that pillar bears the motto of the Great Seal of Nevada, “All for Our Country”.

The objects around her repay a slow look:

• Library and university buildings drawn from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada.
• The quartz mill from the State Seal, and an antique Hoover Dam hard helmet.
• Books, scrolls, a wagon wheel, pen and ink, and works by Samuel Clemens — Mark Twain.
• A silver mine car and the state's No. 40 Locomotive.
• An open scroll bearing words from the 15th Amendment, which Nevada was first to adopt, extending equal voting rights in the state regardless of skin colour.

Nevada's Mountain Bluebird and the White Pine finish the scene, the pine a nod to mountainous, rural White Pine County along the state's central eastern boundary.

Who this note suits

The 5 holds 1/200 of a troy ounce of 24-carat gold and sits in the middle of the Nevada range. It is the note most people choose when they want one piece with real presence rather than a full set, and the larger 13.01 cm format gives a composition this busy the room it needs.

It also works as a gift, because the design carries enough detail to hold someone's attention without any explanation from you.

The honest limitation is gold per pound spent. The premium over the gold price on a 5 is well above what a Britannia, a Sovereign or a plain bar costs you for the same weight, and that gap does not close. Buy this for the artwork and the set, not as an efficient way to own gold.

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 1/200 troy oz (0.005 oz) of 24-carat gold.
• Grade: (U) Crisp Uncirculated
• Metal content: 0.005 troy oz
• Purity: .999
• Thickness: 0.10 mm
• Size: 6.5 cm x 13.01 cm (2.56 in x 5.125 in)
• Manufactured in the USA.

The Nevada Series

Each denomination carries its own original artwork and a proportional quantity of 24-carat gold. View all Nevada Goldbacks or browse every Goldback series.