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Artwork for the Arizona Series

Watch the reveal video below and get a first look at the Arizona series artwork!

Symbolism Behind the Artwork

The artwork on each denomination paints a vibrant picture of the state’s history. Keep reading to learn what stories inspired the artwork and the meaning behind each detail!

Arizona ½ Goldback

This artwork celebrates the virtue of Fides (Faith) through the legacy of Arizona’s earliest Spanish missionaries, who journeyed Southwest to share beliefs, foster community, and cultivate the land.

A poised young woman sits cradling a candle to symbolize the steadfast light of faith carried by the missionaries. Her traditional Spanish gown and cross pendant honor Catholic heritage.

Around her the desert is alive with wildlife: blooming cactus flowers, a swift roadrunner, the tiny elf owl, and a desert spiny lizard. A lemon tree grows at her side, a nod to the agricultural legacy of the missions.

Above, white doves take flight, while the mission San Xavier del Bac stands behind her, affectionately known as the “White Dove of the Desert.” The scene is bound together by a guiding principle drawn from Psalms 27:1: “The Lord is my light.”

Arizona 1 Goldback

This artwork honors the virtue Temperantia, or Temperance. It reflects the Mexican era of Tubac, after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821.

In the background stands Mission San José de Tumacácori, one of Arizona’s oldest and most important landmarks. At the center is a regal woman in a 19th-century Mexican dress. Her embroidered skirt symbolizes the union of Indigenous, Spanish, and Mexican traditions that gave Arizona its roots.

Around her are many state symbols: the saguaro blossom (the state flower), the cactus wren (the state bird), and the two-tailed swallowtail (the state butterfly). In the artwork, you’ll also find a desert tortoise, a Harris’s hawk, a javelina, corn, chiles, and prickly pear.

Together, Tubac and Tumacácori remind us that Mexico’s presence shaped southern Arizona. At the heart of this scene is the enduring truth from Galatians 5:22–23: “The fruit of the Spirit is temperance.”

Arizona 2 Goldback

Set within the immense walls of the Grand Canyon, this scene honors the first documented journey through the canyon by boat: the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition. At its heart is the virtue Exploratio (Exploration).

In the foreground, a striking young woman embodies the spirit of exploration itself. Her boat is modeled after the sturdy vessels used in the expedition, which carried ten men into uncharted waters.

Their expedition produced the first detailed records of the Grand Canyon.

In the background, Major John Wesley Powell, who led the expedition, is shown seated in his boat. Two California condors wheel high overhead while a bighorn sheep stands watch from a ledge. The canyon itself towers with striated cliffs, while the rapids at Granite Falls churn with whitewater.

This artwork celebrates the enduring spirit of discovery that defines Arizona. Etched on the bottom of this note is scripture “Let us not grow weary.” — Galatians 6:9

Arizona 5 Goldback

The virtue of Lex et Ordo—Law and Order—comes alive in this vivid scene from Tombstone, Arizona. The artwork draws inspiration from the infamous 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral. A law woman strides forward with Virgil Earp’s U.S. Marshal badge pinned proudly to her chest, embodying the courage of those who stood their ground. Around her, symbolic details enrich the story: the O.K. Corral sets the scene; a Gila monster crawls across the dirt; and desert daisies bloom in reference to Doc Holliday’s biting words, “You’re a daisy if you do.”

Along the bottom, the enduring principle is inscribed: “Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.”

Arizona 10 Goldback

The virtue of Virtus, or Valor, rides proudly in this tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. Formed after the Civil War, the 10th Cavalry was made up of African American soldiers who fought with distinction while confronting racial prejudice within their own country. This artwork captures their enduring spirit of resilience. The central figure sits tall in uniform and saddle gear, carrying the flag with unwavering resolve.

Strong and dignified, she reflects the Roman ideal of Virtus: courage in the face of trial, excellence in the performance of duty, and honor.

The Buffalo Soldiers’ legacy reminds us of the enduring principle: “Let hardship forge you—not harden you.”

Arizona 25 Goldback

Set in the dramatic landscape of the Superstition Mountains near Weavers Needle, the Arizona 25 Goldback honors one of the American West’s most enduring legends: the Lost Dutchman Mine. This artwork captures the spirit of Tenacitas, or Tenacity. The central figure is a courageous woman, clutching a lantern and a treasure map filled with cryptic markings, journeying through rugged wilderness. She represents the countless adventurers who, for over a century, have searched these canyons for a lost mine rumored to be filled with untold riches.

The horse skull in the foreground nods to one of the earliest chapters of this tale, when the Peralta family was ambushed and lost their pack animals. Prominently featured is the enigmatic Peralta Stone, a real artifact etched with strange symbols and believed by some to contain clues to the mine’s location.

This design honors the determination to chase what others doubt and the hope that drives every seeker. Written along the bottom is this enduring principle: “Lost things shape those who search.”

Arizona 50 Goldback

The Arizona 50 Goldback honors the discovery of Pluto in 1930 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The artwork personifies the virtue Curiositas, or Curiosity, through a young woman gazing skyward with wonder. She holds a book embossed with Pluto’s symbol in her right hand and a telescope in her left. Behind her, the iconic observatory dome rises under a star-studded sky.

A vintage newspaper clipping on the table recalls the headlines that once proclaimed Pluto as the ninth planet. Above, Pluto itself appears alongside its moon, Charon—a reminder that discovery often reveals more than we first expect.

This enduring principle is written along the bottom: “Be still and trust God.”

Arizona 100 Goldback

Set in Window Rock, Arizona—a sacred site and the seat of the Navajo Nation—this artwork honors one of the most extraordinary stories of World War II: the Navajo Code Talkers.

In the foreground, a Navajo Code Talker crouches in full WWII Marine uniform, radio in hand. He represents the hundreds of Navajo Marines who created and carried out the only unbreakable code of the war, built from their language. The code was so effective that it was used in every major Marine assault across the Pacific.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima alone, more than 800 coded messages were transmitted flawlessly. Behind the Code Talker, the historic Iwo Jima flag rises faintly, a powerful reminder of the victories their voices made possible.

Towering above, Libertas embodies both universal liberty and Navajo strength. She wears a concho belt, a squash blossom necklace, and a flowing dress adorned with Navajo woven patterns. In her hand she holds a spear, representing the Navajo’s long tradition of protecting their land and people.

Above her, eagles soar as emblems of vigilance and freedom. Below, Marines move among cactus and desert stone, tying their sacrifice to the land of Arizona itself. The design also bears the seal of the Navajo Code Talker Museum, affirming the partnership with the Navajo Nation in preserving this legacy.

The enduring principle is expressed in the Code Talkers’ own words: “Our language was our strongest weapon.”