¼ California Goldback - Alpha Edition (α) | Aurum Gold Foil Note (24k)

Under UV light, the scales in Justitia's raised hand fill with water. It is a deliberate image: justice as something that has to be kept topped up rather than won once and left alone, and it sits on the smallest note California issues.

The artwork

The virtue is Justitia, justice. She lifts the scales high, standing for fairness, balance and the law applied equally to everyone. In her other hand a gavel rests on a stack of books, tying judgement to wisdom and to the legal foundations underneath a just society.

California is worked into the figure rather than left as scenery behind her:

• Poppies, the state flower, run through the foreground and are woven into Justitia's crown.
• California dogface butterflies, the state insect, move through the scene as symbols of transformation and renewal.
• Half Dome and El Capitan rise behind her, placing the whole design in Yosemite National Park.

Those two rock faces are recognised worldwide, and their scale is the point: a reminder that a just society rests on the steady, unglamorous application of law, wisdom and fairness to everyone. The inscription along the bottom reads "To delay justice is injustice."

Who this note suits

The ¼ is the least expensive way into Goldbacks and the easiest one to hand over, which makes it the natural first purchase, a children's gift, or the note you buy in small numbers to compare California against other states. It holds 1/4000 of a troy ounce of 24-carat gold. That is a very small quantity, and that is the whole intention: gold divided finely enough to be given away without a meaningful outlay.

Be clear-eyed about the cost of that. Because the artwork, printing and distribution are spread across so little metal, the ¼ carries the steepest percentage premium over melt value of any denomination in the range. If your objective is the maximum gold per pound spent, a Britannia, a Sovereign or a bar will beat it every time, and we would rather say so up front. Buy the ¼ for the format, the design and the low entry point.

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 1/4000 troy oz (0.00025 oz) of 24-carat gold.
• Grade: (U) Crisp Uncirculated
• Edition: Alpha (α)
• Metal content: 0.00025 troy oz
• Purity: .999
• Thickness: 0.10 mm
• Size: 6.5 cm x 11.1 cm (2.56 in x 4.375 in)
• Manufactured in the USA.

The California Series

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