50 South Dakota Goldback

Description

Fifty South Dakota Goldback – Libertas (Liberty)

The pinnacle Virtue for U.S. regions, Libertas, graces the 50 Goldback Denomination. Within the South Dakota Design Series, she mirrors the Lady Freedom statue from D.C., imbibing its rich symbolism. Clutching a gleaming sword in her right and a shield in her left, she projects an unwavering resolve to defend her own. The shield showcases her moniker, punctuated by the emblematic sun of South Dakota’s flag, with the proclamation “Under God the People Rule” – South Dakota’s state slogan. Her helmet’s crest and accompanying armaments draw inspiration from the Roman deities, Minerva and Bellona.

Beneath Libertas lies the skull of an American bison, adorned with the Lakota Sioux Medicine Wheel, a symbolic tribute to the native tribes of South Dakota: Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota. The circular shape, coupled with directional lines and feathers, emanates a beacon of hope and restoration. The bison skull also symbolizes how this majestic beast’s life would be sacrificed, its entire essence utilized, nurturing many in return. Nestled amidst these symbols is a cluster of freesia flowers, signifying peace, camaraderie, and purity.

Below, an angler can be seen casting for walleye, the state’s cherished fish, set against Palisades State Park’s cliffside and waters. Over Libertas’ right is the architectural marvel of the South Dakota State Capitol, with the iconic Needles formations from Custer State Park in the backdrop. Above is the majestic Mount Rushmore, a testament to South Dakota’s stewardship of this iconic beacon of American aspiration, freedom, and hope. Encircled by these emblems, Libertas ceaselessly implores us to “Stand Fast in Liberty.”