2023 Utah Goldback Set

Description

One Utah Goldback – Prudentiae (Prudence)

The Utah Goldback Series starts with its initial 1 Goldback Design, rich in symbolism and cultural references. It extensively features the virtue of Prudentiae, also known as Prudence, embodied as a Native American woman. She bears items and characteristics representative of the five major Native American tribes in Utah: Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone, and Navajo. Prudence is shown sitting on a sandstone rock beside an ancient bristlecone pine tree, a nod to its permanency and a symbolic throne for Prudence. This highlights her high status as a foundational virtue and the wisdom gained over time.

She can be seen holding a mirror in her one hand, which reflects the notions of perspective, great lessons from the past, and the value of perception. Her other wrist has a copper snake bracelet that embodies challenges faced throughout difficult decision-making circumstances, handled with great wisdom. Near her feet, a chipmunk stands, representing evidence of the anticipation and prudence shown in their annual winter preparations.

Besides her, you can see a wolf standing, its call echoing the imperativeness of prudence and drawing a parallel between the central role of gold in an economy and the wolves as keystone predators in Yellowstone. Their absence leads to the decline of their respective ecosystems. The phrase “Deal Prudently” is finely inscribed on the bottom right corner of the canvas. As a backdrop, the majestic Natural Bridge formation of Bryce Canyon National Park is depicted, with Canada geese exhibiting gracefully in formation above.

Five Utah Goldback – Veritas (Truth)

On the 5 Utah Goldback Design, “Veritas” or “Truth” is beautifully showcased. She embodies the spirit of a Utah pioneer, paying homage to the epic journey of Utah’s first settlers who ventured into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

With hair tousled by the wind, she elevates a lantern in her right hand, its light radiating toward viewers. This luminance symbolizes the enlightening power of truth, dispelling the shadows of doubt one might encounter in life’s voyage. Beneath her, the inscription reads: “Walk in Truth”. Nestled in her apron’s pocket is a compass, emphasizing the importance of truth as our guiding principle.

Notably, its needle points West, a subtle tribute to the westward migration of the Utah pioneers. Clutched in her left hand are two tomes signifying written truths. These books are labeled “Judah” (symbolizing the Bible) and “Joseph” (representing the Book of Mormon). They highlight the significance these scriptures held for the Utah Pioneers, offering them direction and grounding their belief. Their unwavering faith in the divine guidance of these texts ultimately fueled their quest for religious liberty in Utah.

Veritas stands poised by a tranquil pool, with a cascading waterfall replenishing it from behind. This scene alludes to the indispensable nature of truth, paralleling our essential need for pure water. At the foot of a towering cottonwood tree, a deer, symbolic of a truth-bearer, quenches its thirst from the truth-laden pool.

The Roman emblem of the fish, linked with truth, is visible within the stream emerging from the pool. High above, an eagle soars in the twilight sky, safeguarding truth and echoing the liberties the United States provides, allowing truth to thrive. Amidst the clouds, the North Star gleams steadfastly, serving as a beacon that truth, like its unwavering light, persists even when shrouded. In this portrayal, Veritas is unshod, suggesting that the path of truth might be rugged. Yet, irrespective of its challenges, the unwavering nature of truth remains constant, often rendering its end rewards even more cherished.

Ten Utah Goldback – Justitia (Justice)

On Utah’s 10 Goldback Design, the embodiment of Justice, known as Justitia, graces the scene. She stands against the breathtaking backdrop of southern Utah, featuring the striking Balancing Rock and the renowned red cliffs.

Clothed in the era-appropriate Sunday attire of early settlers, she represents a time shortly after Utah’s initial settlement. Tradition is honored with her blindfold, symbolizing impartiality, while she wields a double-edged sword and balances, indicating the balance of fairness and the decisiveness that true Justice must embrace.

Beneath her feet, an inscription reads: “Judge Righteously.” On the balances she holds, symbols of a cross, heart, and anchor can be discerned, highlighting the intertwined roles of faith, hope, and love in administering justice and ensuring mercy’s place.

A seagull, Utah’s emblematic state bird, soars with a cricket clasped in its beak, set against an impending desert storm. These serve as powerful reminders of two miraculous events experienced by early Utah settlers.

Firstly, the providential arrival of seagulls that devoured crop-destroying crickets, and secondly, a much-prayed-for rainstorm that concluded a devastating drought, believed to be a divine response to the settlers’ collective fasting and prayers.

These symbols emphasize the benevolent aspect of justice – while one edge of the sword can mete out punishment, the other confers blessings. However, the former often overshadows the latter in our perceptions. Nestled in the brush below Justitia, a sage hen shelters her brood of twelve, symbolizing the protective and merciful attributes of justice and evoking biblical gospel imagery.

Twenty-five Utah Goldback – Victoria (Victory)

The 25 Goldback Design features the dignified Lady Virtue Victoria, representing Victory, in a tribute to Women’s suffrage. This artwork stands out as the pioneering Goldback design and served as the artist’s entry piece for the entire series. Emblazoned on her banner is “Votes Counting Since 1870,” referencing Utah’s early embrace of women’s voting rights.

Although Utah can claim the honor of the first-ever vote by a woman, with Seraph Young casting her ballot, Wyoming as a state extended women’s suffrage slightly earlier; the design resonates with the pioneering achievements of Utah’s women, from their roles as spiritual leaders to Martha Hughes Cannon’s historic election as the first woman State Senator in 1911.

In the depiction, Victoria is not alone; a child accompanies her, symbolizing the generations of women who championed suffrage alongside their offspring. The child’s branch signifies the promise of future generations and their inheritance of today’s triumphs. With a rallying cry, the design beckons viewers to “Go on to Victory.”

Its backdrop, a picturesque mountain view from Alpine, Utah, is the very vista the artist saw from the workspace where the Goldback creations took shape. The flag in Victoria’s left hand is crowned with the Chi-Rho, an ancient symbol for Christ, acknowledging the divine support Utah’s women felt in their pursuit of rights. Her right-hand grasps sheaves of wheat, each grain a metaphor for individual triumphs that together create significant change.

A falcon graces the skies behind her, embodying steadfast commitment and a yearning to revisit and honor past triumphs that shaped the present. Victoria’s poised stance is along a direct path, flanked by a stone wall on one side—each stone signifying incremental progress—and by aspen trees on the other, symbolizing humanity’s shared lineage and the maternal legacy binding every individual.

Fifty Utah Goldback – Libertas (Liberty)

The grand finale of the Utah series is embodied in the majestic Lady Virtue Libertas, representing Liberty. She is portrayed as an ethereal, angelic figure, having achieved the zenith of blessings through the rightful exercise of freedom in life. This design brims with symbolism: her right hand brandishes a torch, illuminating the path of enlightenment, while her left cradles a brimming cup, symbolizing the sacrificial blood of Christ and its deep ties to divine freedom.

Beside her lie a sheathed sword and a shield, a testament to the perpetual vigilance needed to safeguard freedom and the initial struggle to achieve it. The shield carries the emblematic year 1847, marking the settlement of the Utah territory, with the word “Deseret”—the territory’s original name—etched upon it. This term resonates with the imagery of a honey bee, hinting at the tireless labor essential to maintain Liberty, much like it’s illustrated on the Utah flag.

Libertas is harmoniously positioned between a mountain lion and a lamb, drawing from Isaiah 11:6’s biblical portrayal of peace through liberty, where the lion coexists with the lamb. The backdrop showcases the majestic Rocky Mountains, complemented by Utah’s signature blue spruce trees and the delicate sego lily.

The serene Bear Lake, often dubbed the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” is gracefully painted in the distance. Above her, a rising sun casts its radiant glow, symbolizing both enlightenment and divine grace, suggesting that these are stepping stones to achieving perfection. At the base of this picturesque scene, a profound message urges viewers to “Stand Fast in Liberty.”