California is where the American gold story took off. In 1848, a discovery at Sutter's Mill set off the Gold Rush and changed the West for good. Now the Golden State has its own Goldback series.
Phase One of the California Goldback series launched on August 25, 2026, with three denominations: the ¼, the 1, and the 5. Each note holds real .9999 fine 24-karat gold, with artwork drawn from California's history and landscape. Goldback Inc. calls it the ultimate starter series for new users, and the denomination lineup makes that easy to see.
New to Goldbacks? Read What is a Goldback? first. It covers how the notes work and how much gold each one holds.
The California Goldback Series
Each Phase One denomination features a different allegorical virtue:
- ¼ Goldback: Justitia (Justice)
- 1 Goldback: Diligentia (Diligence)
- 5 Goldback: Abundantia (Abundance)
The ¼ Goldback shows Justitia raising the scales of justice, with a gavel resting on a stack of books in her other hand. California poppies and California dogface butterflies, the state flower and state insect, fill the scene. Half Dome and El Capitan place her in Yosemite National Park. Under UV light, water fills her scales. The inscription reads "To delay justice is injustice."
The 1 Goldback shows Diligentia as a female prospector kneeling in the waters of Sutter's Mill in Coloma, a gold nugget in her hand. A grizzly bear from the California state flag stands behind her. Under UV light, more nuggets glimmer beneath the water. The inscription reads "Diligence is the mother of good luck."
The 5 Goldback shows Abundantia among the vineyards of Sonoma Valley, holding clusters of ripe grapes beside a California quail, the state bird. Mission San Francisco Solano, the last and northernmost of California's twenty-one missions, stands in the distance. The UV layer reveals a ladybug. The inscription reads "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."
How Much Gold Is in Each California Goldback?
Every denomination holds a fixed, precise amount of .9999 fine 24k gold:
- ¼ Goldback: 1/4,000 troy oz
- 1 Goldback: 1/1,000 troy oz
- 5 Goldback: 1/200 troy oz
The gold content never changes. Retail price moves with the daily gold rate, updated every day at 10am MST. See current pricing at the shop.
The California Limited Early Release
The California series actually started before Phase One. The California Limited Early Release (LER) 3 Goldback came first, and it is the first LER ever printed in color. It depicts Harmonia (Harmony) as a surfer riding a Pacific wave, with a dolphin alongside, Brown Pelicans overhead, and the Santa Monica Pier in the distance. Under UV light, a hidden sea turtle glides beneath the waves. Goldback Inc. released only a small batch of graded California LERs for sale. Check California LER availability →
Built to Spend in California
California Goldbacks launched with a merchant network already in place. At launch, more than 260 California businesses accepted Goldbacks, from restaurants and retail shops to service providers. Any Goldback spends at any participating merchant, so California notes work alongside every other state series.
Buy California Goldbacks
All three Phase One denominations are available now. Ships insured, no minimums.
Shop by denomination: ¼ California Goldback, 1 California Goldback, 5 California Goldback.
Prefer to buy in person? GoldATM machines carry Goldbacks at select locations nationwide.
Pricing reflects the current daily Goldback rate, updated every day at 10am MST. Gold content is fixed per denomination.
Explore More
Shop this series: Shop California Goldbacks →
Compare denominations: Goldback Denominations Guide — see gold content, pricing, and availability for all nine denominations across every state.
New to Goldbacks? How to Buy Goldbacks Online walks through the full process from choosing a denomination to checkout.
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