50 South Dakota Goldback | Aurum Gold Foil Note (24k)

Every US Goldback series ends the same way: Libertas on the 50, the capstone virtue. South Dakota's version packs in Mount Rushmore, the State Capitol, the Needles and a bison skull painted with the Medicine Wheel, on 1/20 of a troy ounce of 24-carat gold.

The artwork

This Libertas takes her cue from the Lady Freedom statue in Washington, D.C. She holds a bared sword in her right hand in front of a shield in her left, both raised, showing a readiness to protect her own. Her crested helmet, shield and sword all borrow from the symbols usually attached to the Roman goddesses Minerva and Bellona.

The shield carries her name, with the sun from the South Dakota flag above it and the state motto below: “Under God the People Rule”.

At her feet sits the skull of an American bison, painted with the Lakota Sioux Medicine Wheel to represent all the native people of South Dakota, the Dakota, the Lakota and the Nakota. Its circular form, with directional lines and feathers, stands for hope and healing for those who seek it. The skull also speaks to the sacred way the animal's life was historically given, its whole body used so that it became a source of life for many others. Beneath both lies a cluster of freesia, for peace, friendship and innocence.

The rest of the state fills the note around her:

• Below Libertas, an angler fishes for walleye, the state fish, against the cliffs and water of Palisades State Park.
• Behind her right shoulder stands the South Dakota State Capitol, with the Needles formations of the Black Hills, inside Custer State Park, rising behind it.
• Above her, Mount Rushmore marks the state as home to one of America's great symbols of freedom and hope.

Her instruction is the one Libertas always gives: “Stand Fast in Liberty”.

Who this note suits

The 50 holds 1/20 troy oz, fifty times the gold of a 1, and at roughly 7.6 cm by 16.4 cm it is the largest note in the range we stock. That combination makes it the display piece, and the note most buyers want framed rather than filed. It is also the most gold-efficient way to hold a single South Dakota note, because the premium is spread across far more metal than it is on a 1 or a 5.

Two honest caveats. First, it is still a Goldback: even at this weight the premium sits well above what a Britannia, a Sovereign or a cast bar would cost you for 0.05 troy oz, so this is not the cheapest gold you can buy. Second, it is the biggest single outlay in the range, so if you are building the series from scratch it usually makes more sense as the piece you finish with than the one you start with.

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 1/20 troy oz (0.05 oz) of 24-carat gold.
• Grade: (U) Crisp Uncirculated
• Metal content: 0.05 troy oz
• Purity: .999
• Thickness: 0.10 mm
• Size: 7.6 cm x 16.4 cm (3.0 in x 6.46 in)
• Manufactured in the USA.

The South Dakota Series

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