Frequently asked questions
What denominations does the South Dakota Goldback series include?
We carry South Dakota Goldbacks in five denominations: the 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Goldback. Each note pairs a virtue with South Dakota's land and people, from Bear Butte to Lake Kampeska. Buy a single note or build the full set. There are no order minimums.
How much gold is in a South Dakota Goldback?
Each South Dakota Goldback holds a fixed amount of .9999 fine 24k gold, set by its denomination: the 1 holds 1/1,000, the 5 holds 1/200, the 10 holds 1/100, the 25 holds 1/40 and the 50 holds 1/20 of a troy ounce. The gold is physically embedded in the note through a patented vacuum deposition process.
What is on the South Dakota Goldback artwork?
The 1 shows Pax (Peace) as a Lakota hoop dancer with Bear Butte behind her. The 5 shows Industria (Industry) on a homestead farm with sunflowers and honey bees. The 10 shows Harmonia (Harmony) among pronghorn and pheasants, the 25 shows Laurea (Honor) on Maiden's Isle, and the 50 shows Libertas (Liberty) with the motto "Under God the People Rule."
Does a South Dakota Goldback hold the same gold as other state series?
Yes. Gold content depends on the denomination, not the state. A 25 South Dakota Goldback holds the same 1/40 troy ounce of .9999 fine 24k gold as a 25 from Nevada or Oklahoma. What changes from series to series is the artwork. Goldbacks from every state series spend at participating merchants across the Goldback network.
How do I verify a South Dakota Goldback?
Every Goldback has microprinting, raised imagery on the back that you can feel, and a unique serial number. South Dakota notes minted in 2025 or later also carry UV-reactive ink on the reverse, so the denomination and Goldback logo glow under a 365 nm UV light. Our guide on how to verify your Goldbacks walks through each check.




