25 South Dakota Goldback

Description

Twenty-five South Dakota Goldback – Laurea (Honor)

For the South Dakota 25 Goldback Denomination, the last fresh Virtue is Laurea, symbolizing Honor. This depiction draws significant inspiration from the folklore surrounding Maiden’s Isle in Lake Kampeska, one of the state’s glacial lakes. Although numerous myths circulate about these glacial lakes, this particular tale revolves around a young woman named Minnecotah. Deeply in love with an outsider hunter, she was pursued by many local admirers. To fend off their proposals, she challenged them to hurl a stone into the lake, promising her hand to the one whose stone reached the farthest.

To keep them engaged and avoid a hasty decision, Minnecotah claimed the waves obscured her judgment, leading the men to continue their throws and consequently forming an island in the process. But as they discerned her deception, they trapped her on the newly formed isle, deprived of food, hoping to compel her to pick a suitor or perish.

Yet, steadfast in her love and devotion, Minnecotah chose neither. In her solitude, a benevolent white pelican sustained her with fish and berries. Her tale culminates when her beloved hunter reemerges, rescuing her. Her thwarted suitors surmised that the sun god dispatched the pelican to spirit her away.

In homage to this tale, Laurea is depicted standing on a stone isle, emblematic of Maiden’s Isle. Soaring above her is a pelican, while raspberries are nestled in the scene’s forefront. Interwoven in this artwork are elements from various Lakota myths, including the origin of the flute, the porcupine’s quills, and the dream catcher, as narrated by the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. With an urging to remain steadfast in one’s commitments and honor their word, the accompanying inscription “Honor to the Giver” beckons viewers to show gratitude even amidst challenges.