1 Nevada Goldback

Description

Virtue: Caritas (Charity)

Enduring Principle: “Charity Faileth Not.”

Caritas, the personification of Charity, makes her debut on Nevada’s 1 Goldback. The design draws inspiration from Mary in a painting at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Austin, Nevada—the oldest Catholic church building in the state—honoring Nevada’s deep-rooted spiritual and charitable traditions.

At Caritas’s feet bloom a Sierra Nevada Lily and a Mary Magdalene Rose, each placed in a vessel representing purity, grace, and devotion. Above, cherubs present crowns and burning hearts, signifying divine love and eternal compassion. In her hands, she holds a glowing candle, illuminating the scene as a symbol of hope, guidance, and selfless giving. Through the window behind her, Nevada’s sun rises over the mountains, a reminder of renewal and opportunity.

The architectural details—the window frame, candleholder, and columns—are inspired by St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church in Virginia City, a historic site of faith. Hidden symbols throughout the artwork include the word “Love”, a square and compass, a wagon wheel, and rosary beads, each reflecting the guidance, devotion, and journey of faith that Charity embodies.

Additional touches emphasize family and community: an ash tree representing marital bonds and a nod to Las Vegas as the “wedding capital of the world,” and a family of ring-necked pheasants, renowned for their nurturing behavior, illustrating charity as care for others and the enduring strength of communal ties.