The Idaho 2 Goldback honors the virtue Civitas, or Community, through the deeply-rooted story of Boise’s Basque community. The scene is set on the Basque Block in downtown Boise, where a group performs a traditional hoop dance from the Gipuzkoa province called “Uztai Txiki (Arco Dantza).” The dancers hold small wooden hoops decorated with ribbons, striking them in rhythm with the music. Their coordinated movements symbolize impeccable timing and shared purpose. Civitas takes center stage. Beneath her feet is the Boise Basque cross, the locally recognized lauburu design. This specific cross ties the scene to the city, honoring a community that preserved its identity while becoming part of Idaho.

The Boise Mountains rise behind the dancers, while two sheep stand to the side. Together, they quietly reference the daily labor of Basque immigrants who arrived in the late nineteenth century, many working as sheep herders across Idaho’s open ranges. In the distance, the Idaho State Capitol acknowledges the Basque community’s lasting role in Idaho’s civic and economic life. The Basque Museum and Cultural Center appears in the background as a nod to its role in preserving language, history, and tradition.

Boise is now home to one of the largest Basque communities in the United States, with traditions that remain a part of daily life. Reviewed with input from representatives of the Idaho Basque Museum, this design reflects a Basque principle that fits Idaho well: “Denon artean egina, erraz egina.” What is done together is done easily.