Idaho

Will Idaho be the next state to get a Half Goldback?

Idaho Half (1/2) Goldback Concept

Idaho 1/2 (Half) Goldback Concept. Click the image for all 0.5 Goldbacks available for purchase.

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Why Idaho Will Be the Next State to Get a Goldback Series

On September 5th, Goldback announced that Idaho will get a Goldback series in 2026.

The Gem State’s Golden Heritage

Idaho, dubbed the "Gem State," has gold coursing through its veins. Since the 1860s, when prospectors struck rich veins in the Boise Basin—yielding over 2.5 million ounces by century’s end—Idaho’s mining legacy has gleamed. Towns like Idaho City and Pierce sprang from these finds, shaping a state born of grit and gold. The Goldback—a voluntary, spendable gold currency—revives this heritage, offering Idahoans a tangible link to their past. In a state forged by precious metals, why not let gold shine as currency again?

Legislative Gold Rush: Idaho’s Sound Money Push

Idaho is the likely next candidate for Goldbacks as Idaho is 12th best state in the 2024 Sound Money Index and all 6 current Goldback states are in the top 12 Sound Money Index. Also, Idaho is bordered by two Goldback states, Utah and Wyoming, and 4 of the 6 Goldback states are adjacent to each other. Idaho’s legislature is paving a golden path. In 2019, Senate Bill 502 eliminated sales taxes on precious metals, easing gold transactions. In 2025, House Bill 177 (H177)—the Idaho Constitutional Money Act—passed the House State Affairs Committee on February 20, recognizing gold and silver as legal tender and barring forced acceptance unless agreed upon, awaiting full House approval as of February 25. These laws, building on Idaho’s no-capital-gains-tax stance on metals, make it a Goldback-ready contender.

Economic Resilience and Idaho Pride

The Goldback bolsters Idaho’s economy and spirit. Starting at 1/1000th of an ounce, it’s perfect for small buys—from Coeur d’Alene’s huckleberry stands to Boise’s craft markets. With inflation a worry, its gold backing offers stability, echoing Idaho’s rugged independence. Picture a Goldback series showcasing state icons: the Sawtooths, Chief Joseph, or Silver Valley. These notes would be collectibles, boosting tourism and pride. Businesses adopting Goldbacks could draw sound-money fans, enhancing local trade. This is Idaho’s golden moment.

Idaho-Specific Goldback Designs

Here’s how Idaho’s Goldback denominations could honor its significant people and places:

  • 1 Goldback (1/1000 oz): Features a miner in Boise Basin, recalling the 1862 gold rush that made Idaho City a boomtown.
  • 5 Goldback (1/200 oz): Depicts Chief Joseph leading the Nez Perce, honoring his 1877 resistance through Idaho’s wilds.
  • 10 Goldback (1/100 oz): Showcases Silver Valley’s Bunker Hill Mine, reflecting Idaho’s mining heart in Kellogg.
  • 25 Goldback (1/40 oz): Highlights Sacagawea near Lemhi Pass, celebrating her pivotal role in the Lewis and Clark expedition.
  • 50 Goldback (1/20 oz): Pictures the Sawtooth Mountains at sunrise, embodying Idaho’s untamed natural beauty.

These designs turn the Goldback into a tribute to Idaho’s history and landscapes, blending value with Gem State pride.

A Golden Call to Lead the West

Utah, Nevada, and others have Goldbacks, but Idaho can lead the West. With H177 advancing, SB 502’s tax relief, and a gold-rich past, Idaho is poised to pioneer this currency in the region. Let’s urge the House to pass H177 and launch an Idaho Goldback series. Imagine gold in every hand—from Sandpoint to Pocatello—proving the Gem State isn’t just a mining legend but a golden innovator. The time is now.

Rise up. Make Idaho golden.

The History of Gold in Idaho: Strikes, Boomtowns, and Lasting Legends

Idaho’s nickname, the “Gem State,” owes as much to its golden past as to its precious stones. From the first glittering flakes discovered in remote creeks to the great lode mines that reshaped mountainsides, Idaho’s history is punctuated by remarkable strikes, ambitious entrepreneurs, and towns that sprang up almost overnight.

1860: Gold at Pierce and the Birth of Idaho’s Rush

In 1860, prospector Elias D. Pierce and his party of Orofino Creek explorers found fine gold in the Clearwater Mountains. Their discovery triggered the first major Idaho gold rush. Within months, thousands of miners crossed the rugged Bitterroot Mountains from Walla Walla and Lewiston, braving early winter storms for a chance at fortune. The boomtown of Pierce City sprang to life, complete with saloons, mercantile shops, and gambling halls, and remains one of the earliest mining settlements in the state.

1862: The Boise Basin Bonanza

Two years later, prospectors George Grimes and Moses Splawn uncovered rich placer deposits in the Boise Basin. Grimes was killed by Natives within days of his discovery, but the rush was unstoppable. By 1863, the bustling mining camp of Idaho City became the largest settlement in the Northwest—larger even than Portland or Seattle at the time—with a population estimated at 20,000. Wooden sidewalks, dance halls, and ornate hotels lined the streets, while daily stagecoaches carried passengers and gold dust to waiting banks.

Southwestern Strikes: Silver City and the Owyhee Mountains

In 1863, another rich find occurred in the Owyhee Mountains of southwestern Idaho. The discovery near Jordan Creek led to the creation of Silver City, a boomtown that boasted multi-story brick buildings and some of the most advanced mining technology of the era. Unlike many fleeting camps, Silver City maintained a vibrant economy for decades, and many of its original structures still stand, offering visitors a window into 19th-century mining life.

Idaho’s Largest Gold Nugget

Not all gold came as fine dust. In 1889, a spectacular 1,554-ounce nugget—nicknamed the “Armstrong Nugget”—was unearthed in Elk City. Weighing nearly 100 pounds, it became an instant legend, drawing prospectors back to a district many believed played out. Today, a replica of this massive nugget is displayed in local museums, a testament to the riches that once lay in Idaho’s gravel bars.

From Placer to Hardrock Mining

As easy placer deposits dwindled, miners pursued hardrock veins. Towns like Warren and Florence saw the rise of stamp mills and underground tunnels. In the 1890s, the famous Thunder Mountain District lured investors from New York and San Francisco, promising quartz veins loaded with gold. Though many companies failed, their grand ambitions left a trail of abandoned mills and rusting equipment deep in the Payette National Forest.

Infrastructure and Statehood

The wealth of these strikes didn’t just enrich miners—it fueled Idaho’s growth toward statehood in 1890. Stage lines, freight routes, and the construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad were driven by the need to transport people and bullion. Mining profits funded schools, newspapers, and territorial government, laying the civic groundwork for modern Idaho.

20th Century to Today

Gold mining continued into the 20th century with operations like the mighty Coeur d’Alene Mines, which shifted between gold and silver production. Recreational prospecting endures today along rivers such as the Salmon and the Clearwater, where visitors still pan for specks of color much as Pierce’s party did over 160 years ago.

Legacy and Living History

Idaho’s mining ghost towns—Silver City, Warren, Florence, and Rocky Bar—stand as silent witnesses to fortunes made and lost. Museums in Boise, Grangeville, and Idaho City preserve artifacts like original gold scales, diaries, and miners’ tools. Annual festivals such as Idaho City Days celebrate this heritage with reenactments and panning demonstrations, keeping the gold rush spirit alive.

From the first glittering flakes in a mountain creek to the thunderous roar of stamp mills, Idaho’s gold history is one of risk, resilience, and remarkable discovery—a story still written in the rivers and ghost towns of the Gem State.

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