¼ Idaho Goldback | Aurum Gold Foil Note (24k)

This is the note that created a denomination. Before Idaho, no Goldback series had ever gone below a half — the ¼ was designed here first, and it remains the smallest quantity of physical gold you can buy in a recognisable, handleable format anywhere.

It holds 1/4000 of a troy ounce of 24-carat gold. That is a genuinely tiny amount, and it is the entire point: gold divided finely enough to be given as a gift, handed to a child, or bought as a first piece without a meaningful outlay.

The artwork

The virtue is Justitia, Justice. She holds the scales raised and the sword lowered — the order matters, since judgement should precede force — and wears the blindfold of impartiality.

Idaho is written into the detail rather than the background. The elk and cornucopia from the state seal appear on her belt. A syringa, the state flower, is woven into her hair. A monarch butterfly, the state insect, moves beside her. Behind, Hells Canyon opens out: the deepest river gorge in North America, and a reminder that fairness tends to be forged in demanding places rather than comfortable ones.

Along the bottom: “Judge righteously.”

Who this note suits

The ¼ is the cheapest way into Goldbacks and the easiest to give away, which makes it the natural first purchase, a children's gift, or the note you buy several of to compare against other states.

Be aware of the trade-off. Because the cost of manufacturing, artwork and distribution is spread across such a small quantity of gold, the ¼ carries the highest percentage premium over melt value of any denomination. If your goal is maximum gold per pound spent, a coin or bar will always be more efficient, and we would rather say so. Buy the ¼ for the format, the artwork and the accessibility.

UK buyer notes

Goldbacks supplied by Yard Mint are treated as VAT-exempt investment-gold wafers, priced in pounds and delivered within the UK. That is separate from Capital Gains Tax — Goldbacks are not UK legal tender and do not share the CGT exemption that applies to Britannias and post-1837 Sovereigns for UK individuals. This is general information, not personal tax advice.

• Contains 1/4000 oz (0.00025 oz) of .999 fine gold
• Grade: (U) Crisp Unc
• Edition: Alpha (α)
• Purity: .999
• Manufactured in the USA

The Idaho Series

Idaho introduced the ¼ denomination and was the last full series to include a 100. 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.