Arizona 2 Goldback

(1) Arizona 2 Goldback, 1/500 troy ounce 24k gold 

Exploratio (Exploration, Investigation)

Let us not grow weary

Set within the immense walls of the Grand Canyon, this scene honors one of the most daring chapters in Arizona’s history: the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition. Led by Major John Wesley Powell, this was the first documented journey through the canyon by boat. At its heart is the virtue Exploratio (Exploration), representing the noble pursuit of discovery in the face of the unknown.

In the foreground, a striking young woman embodies the spirit of exploration itself. Windswept and resolute, she rows a rugged wooden craft through swift waters. Her boat is modeled after the ones used in the expedition: the Emma Dean, Maid of the Canyon, Kitty Clyde’s Sister, and No Name. Among the fury of the Colorado River, these sturdy vessels carried ten men into uncharted waters. For nearly three months, the crew endured dangerous rapids, scarce supplies, and constant uncertainty. They mapped the Green and Colorado Rivers, documenting a landscape that had remained a blank space on U.S. maps. Their expedition produced the first detailed records of the Grand Canyon, opening the eyes of the nation to one of Arizona’s greatest natural wonders.

In the background, Major Powell is shown seated in his boat, his right sleeve pinned at the shoulder—a reminder of the arm he lost at the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. As a veteran turned scientist, Powell led his men with a vision for advancing knowledge, geography, and natural history.

Two California condors wheel high overhead while a bighorn sheep stands watch from a ledge, embodying the rugged resilience of Arizona’s wildlife. The canyon itself towers with striated cliffs glowing in golden morning light, while the rapids at Granite Falls churn with whitewater.

This artwork celebrates the enduring spirit of discovery that defines Arizona. The Grand Canyon stands as both a setting and a symbol, forever tied to the Powell Expedition that first revealed its majesty to the world. 

Etched on the bottom of this note is scripture “Let us not grow weary.” — Galatians 6:9