Texas

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

Concept for a Texas 1/2 Goldback. Click image to see all the Half Goldbacks available for sale.

Why Texas Should Be the Next State to Get a Goldback Series

The Lone Star State’s Golden Roots

Texas, the "Lone Star State," has a golden heritage etched into its vast landscape. While not as famed as California, placer gold was prospected along the Llano River in the 19th century, and legends of lost treasures—like the San Saba Mine—dot its history. Today, Texas stands as a beacon of economic independence with the Texas Bullion Depository, safeguarding gold since 2018. The Goldback—a voluntary, spendable gold currency—revives this legacy, offering Texans a tangible link to their pioneering spirit. Why not let Texas shine as the next golden star?

Legislative Goldmine: Texas’s Sound Money Advantage

Texas is a likely next Goldback candidate as Texas is the 6th best state in the 2024 & 2025 Sound Money Index and all 6 current Goldback states are in the top 12 Sound Money Index. Texas’s legislature has forged a golden path for sound money. In 2019, House Bill 2357 exempted precious metals stored in the Texas Bullion Depository from taxation, enhancing its appeal. In 2024, Senate Bill 1558 (SB 1558) aimed to establish gold and silver as legal tender but didn’t pass—yet its momentum persists. As of February 2025, House Bill 1049 (HB 1049) has passed the House State Affairs Committee on February 20, proposing state-issued gold-backed transactional currencies, awaiting full House vote. Texas ranks 6th in the 2024 Sound Money Index, making it Goldback-ready.

Economic Resilience and Lone Star Pride

The Goldback bolsters Texas’s economy and spirit. Starting at 1/1000th of an ounce, it’s ideal for small buys—from Austin’s taco trucks to San Antonio’s craft stalls. With inflation a concern, its gold backing offers stability, aligning with Texas’s independent ethos. Picture a Goldback series showcasing state icons: the Alamo, Sam Houston, or Big Bend. These notes would be collectibles, boosting tourism and pride. Businesses adopting Goldbacks could draw sound-money enthusiasts, enhancing local trade. This is Texas’s chance to lead with gold.

Texas-Specific Goldback Designs

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

  • 1 Goldback (1/1000 oz): Features a prospector panning the Llano River, recalling Texas’s 19th-century gold heritage.
  • 5 Goldback (1/200 oz): Depicts Sam Houston at San Jacinto, honoring the leader who secured Texas’s independence.
  • 10 Goldback (1/100 oz): Showcases the Alamo under golden dawn, reflecting its enduring symbol of resilience.
  • 25 Goldback (1/40 oz): Highlights Willie Nelson in Austin, celebrating the music legend who defines Texas culture.
  • 50 Goldback (1/20 oz): Pictures Big Bend National Park’s golden cliffs, embodying Texas’s vast natural beauty.

These designs transform the Goldback into a vibrant tribute to Texas’s history and spirit, blending value with Lone Star pride.

A Golden Call to Lead the South

Utah, Nevada, and others have Goldbacks, but Texas can lead the South. With HB 1049 advancing, a top Sound Money Index ranking, and a gold legacy tied to the Texas Bullion Depository, Texas is primed to pioneer this currency in the region. Let’s urge the House to pass HB 1049 and launch a Texas Goldback series. Imagine gold in every hand—from Houston to El Paso—proving the Lone Star State isn’t just big in size but bold in prosperity. The time is now.

Rise up. Make Texas golden.

History of Gold in Texas

The history of gold in Texas, while not as prolific as in California or Alaska, is a tapestry woven with threads of Spanish exploration, fleeting gold rushes, and persistent, albeit modest, discoveries. The allure of "El Dorado" drew Spanish conquistadors to the region as early as the 16th century. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's expedition, driven by tales of the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola, traversed vast stretches of what is now Texas, searching for golden treasures. While they found no opulent cities, the seeds of belief in Texas's mineral wealth were sown. This early period ingrained the idea that gold lay hidden beneath the state's rugged terrain.

The mid-19th century saw the most significant period of gold excitement in Texas. In 1853, reports of substantial gold discoveries along the Upper Colorado River ignited a brief but intense "Texas Gold Rush." Newspapers nationwide trumpeted stories of rich strikes, attracting a flood of hopeful prospectors. Towns like Rough and Ready sprang up overnight, fueled by the promise of easy wealth. However, the reality of Texas gold proved far less bountiful than the rumors. The initial excitement quickly faded as miners found only meager pickings. The exaggerated reports of vast gold deposits were largely a product of wishful thinking and speculative hype. While some gold was indeed found, it was never in the quantities that had been promised.

Despite the short-lived gold rush, small-scale gold discoveries continued to occur throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in the Llano Uplift region and the Trans-Pecos area near Presidio and Hazel. The Llano Uplift, with its exposed Precambrian rock formations, proved to be a source of placer gold, found in the gravels of streams and rivers. The Trans-Pecos region, with its volcanic geology, also yielded small amounts of gold, often associated with other minerals like silver and lead. These discoveries, though not commercially significant, sustained the hope of finding larger deposits. Small mining operations and individual prospectors worked these areas, scraping a modest living from the land.

In more recent times, recreational gold prospecting has become a popular pastime in certain areas of Texas. Equipped with metal detectors and pans, enthusiasts search for gold flakes and nuggets in the state's rivers and streams. While the chances of striking it rich are slim, the thrill of discovery and the connection to the state's history continue to draw prospectors. The establishment of the Texas Bullion Depository, a state-administered gold depository, reflects Texas's role in the storage and handling of precious metals, even if large-scale mining is not a significant part of the economy. The depository serves as a secure storage facility for gold and other precious metals, solidifying Texas's position in the national and international gold market, though not through extraction. So, while Texas may not be synonymous with gold like California or Colorado, its history is punctuated by the enduring allure of the precious metal, from the Spanish explorers to modern-day prospectors.

Texas State Coins for Sale with free gold

Celebrate Texas' statehood with a Perfect Proof 70 Deep Cameo quarter.

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