Idaho 10 Goldback

(1) Idaho 10 Goldback, 1/100 troy ounce 24k gold (10 face value total)

Artwork Description:

The Idaho 10 Goldback honors the virtue Perseverantia, or perseverance, through the history of Silver City, one of Idaho’s most important mining communities. The scene takes place at the Owyhee Mountains during the height of the silver rush in the early 1860s. During this time, rich ore discoveries drew thousands to this remote and unforgiving landscape. The miner in the artwork rests beside a cart filled with raw silver ore. Her demeanor reflects the reality of mining life, where success only came after long days of physical labor, risk, and persistence.

Silver City was founded in 1863 and quickly became one of the most productive silver mining centers in the Pacific Northwest. At its peak, it supported thousands of residents and produced millions of dollars in silver, lead, and gold. Behind the miner is the Idaho Hotel, which was built the same year as the town’s founding and is still standing today. The hotel served as a central hub for miners, merchants, and travelers. Along with buildings like the Masonic Lodge, the hotel shows how disciplined work and cooperation transformed a remote camp into a fully functioning town. 

Beyond silver, the artwork also acknowledges how Idaho earned the nickname the “Gem State” Idaho is one of the few places in the world where star garnet is naturally found, and it is the official state gemstone. The state has also produced sapphire, opal, jasper, aquamarine, topaz, and quartz, often mined alongside precious metals. These stones are subtly worked into the composition. Eventually, silver production declined and the town was abandoned, but Silver City is still preserved today. It stands as one of the best examples of an intact mining town in the West.

This design tells a story of endurance. The silver ore in the cart represents wealth that had to be earned one load at a time. Perseverantia reflects the men and women who stayed, worked, and built in difficult conditions. They shaped Idaho’s identity with their grit and the determination to finish what they began. Along the bottom is a passage from James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.”

Virtue: Perserverantia (Perseverance)

Enduring Principle: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.”

— James 1:12