Florida

The first five states to get Goldbacks have been smaller states. Goldback has made a bold move and in 2025, Florida was the first large state to use Goldbacks. Florida Goldback series is accepted at these FL locations. The CEO of Goldback, Jeremy Cordon, is so series about the success in Florida that he has moved to Florida.

Florida was chosen for several reasons:

• In 2024, Florida was the 10th best state in the Sound Money Index and all 5 of the current Goldback states are in the top 12 Sound Money Index.
• On January 9th 2024, bills are introduced in the Florida legislature to allow gold and silver to be used as legal tender.

All the artwork for the Florida series was hand-drawn by Paul Pederson.</p

Florida may not be the first state that comes to mind when discussing gold, but its history is surprisingly rich with golden intrigue—especially along its coasts and in its connection to shipwrecks, hidden treasure, and colonial ambitions.

Spanish Treasure Fleets

The most captivating chapter of Florida’s gold history begins during the Spanish colonial period. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spanish galleons carrying gold and silver from the New World back to Spain often sailed along the Florida coastline. These fleets—known as the Spanish Treasure Fleets—were loaded with precious metals, gemstones, and artifacts collected from Central and South America.

In 1715, one such fleet was struck by a hurricane off the coast of what is now known as Florida's Treasure Coast, near present-day Vero Beach. Eleven of the twelve ships sank, spilling countless gold coins and valuable cargo into the sea. This event led to centuries of treasure hunting and remains a legendary part of Florida’s gold lore.

Treasure Hunting and Salvage

To this day, Florida is home to ongoing salvage operations and treasure hunters who continue to recover gold from historic shipwrecks. Notable figures like Mel Fisher became famous for recovering millions in treasure, including gold bars and coins, from wrecks like the Nuestra Señora de Atocha off the Florida Keys.

Florida law and federal regulations now provide some protections and guidelines for treasure salvaging, but the fascination with lost gold remains strong. Numerous museums across the state display artifacts recovered from Florida waters.

Gold in Modern Florida

Although there are no natural gold veins or major mining operations in Florida, the state’s contribution to America’s gold heritage is centered on its maritime history and its role in preserving and uncovering the riches of the past.

Gold has also played a symbolic and economic role in Florida’s development—attracting adventurers, investors, and tourists alike, all drawn by the state’s reputation for sunshine and the lingering mystery of sunken treasure.

In Florida, gold isn’t mined from the mountains—it’s found beneath the waves and written into the tide of history.