The Idaho 1 Goldback depicts the virtue Fides, or faith and trust, through the experience of pioneer families traveling the California Trail. Set at City of Rocks, the scene shows a mother guiding her child across the open ground. Despite their long and uncertain journey, her demeanor is calm and steadfast. The child’s hand in hers is a symbol of trust, the same kind that sustained the pioneers as they crossed Idaho’s landscape and laid foundations for future communities.
The surrounding details anchor the scene in Idaho’s history. The granite spires of the City of Rocks stand in the background, which guided emigrants on the California Trail. Many of them left carvings in the granite, and today, the stone still bears their names. Behind the mother and child, a covered wagon pulls a group across the trail. Native wildlife surrounds them. A sagebrush lizard rests on a bush in the foreground. A pronghorn stands in the back, symbolizing endurance. Above, a great horned owl flies, illustrating vigilance.
The woman holds a small Bible as a symbol of personal faith. Written on this denomination is a scripture lived by those who settled the region: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” This design honors the faith, trust, and perseverance that helped form Idaho’s history and character.
Contains 1/1000 ozt. of 24K gold.