Live melt value for all Wyoming Goldback denominations — the only tracker with native Goldback support
The Wyoming Goldback was introduced in 2021 as the fourth series in the Goldback line — voluntary local currency notes containing precisely measured 24K gold via physical vapor deposition (PVD). Wyoming's selection as the fourth series reflects its no-income-tax structure, its 2018 precious metals tax exemption, and a frontier political culture of individual sovereignty that predates even its statehood.
Wyoming was an early mover in state-level precious metals legislation. Wyoming House Bill 103 (2018) exempted gold and silver bullion from state capital gains taxation. Combined with Wyoming's longstanding no state income tax status, this means Wyoming precious metals holders pay only federal tax on gains — the 28% federal collectibles rate on long-term gains, with no state layer on top.
HB 103 followed the broader state sound money movement: Utah's Legal Tender Act (HB 317, signed March 25, 2011) was the first modern state to recognize gold and silver as legal tender; New Hampshire HB 1674 (2012) exempted gold and silver coins from state capital gains. Wyoming's HB 103 added bullion (bars and rounds, not just coins) — a broader exemption than NH's. All three states subsequently became Goldback series states.
Wyoming Territory granted women the right to vote on December 10, 1869 — 51 years before the 19th Amendment (1920) extended that right nationally. When Congress moved to block Wyoming's statehood unless it stripped women's suffrage from its constitution, Wyoming's territorial legislature is reported to have responded: "We will remain out of the Union a hundred years rather than come in without women." Wyoming was admitted on July 10, 1890, with women's suffrage intact.
It followed through: Wyoming elected Nellie Tayloe Ross as governor, inaugurated January 5, 1925 — the first female governor in US history. This pattern of resisting federal pressure while asserting local rights is deeply embedded in Wyoming's political identity. The same sovereignty instinct drives its sound money legislation and its embrace of voluntary commodity-backed currency.
Gold was discovered in Wyoming's South Pass area in the 1860s, predating Wyoming's territorial establishment (1869) and driving early settlement of the Wind River Range region. South Pass City became a boomtown by 1869 — notably the same year Wyoming granted women the vote, partly as a strategy to attract settlers and signal civilized governance to Congress. The gold rush connection to Wyoming's political development is direct: gold brought the settlers who demanded self-governance, which produced the first US women's suffrage legislation.
Today Wyoming is the top US coal-producing state with major natural gas, uranium, and trona deposits — an extraction economy with deep familiarity with commodity value, which translates naturally into receptivity for commodity-backed currency like Goldbacks.
| Denomination | Gold (troy oz) | Gold (grams) | Melt at $3,000/oz | Melt at $3,200/oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001000 oz | 0.03110g | $3.00 | $3.20 |
| 5 | 0.005000 oz | 0.15552g | $15.00 | $16.00 |
| 10 | 0.010000 oz | 0.31103g | $30.00 | $32.00 |
| 25 | 0.025000 oz | 0.77758g | $75.00 | $80.00 |
| 50 | 0.050000 oz | 1.55516g | $150.00 | $160.00 |
| Complete Set | 0.091000 oz | 2.83029g | $273.00 | $291.20 |
Wyoming Goldbacks trade at 30–80% above gold melt value at retail. This covers PVD production, polymer lamination, security design, and distribution. If you pay 50% above melt, gold must rise 50% before your melt value alone recovers your purchase price. Goldbacks are commodity-backed local currency with a guaranteed gold floor — not a cost-efficient gold accumulation vehicle. For pure gold by weight, compare to bullion coins at 3–8% premiums via the 24K gold calculator.
MetalMetric is the only precious metals app that tracks Goldbacks natively across all states and denominations. Add your Wyoming Goldbacks and see live P&L, cost basis, and melt value alongside gold coins, silver bars, and junk silver. Open your free vault →
Wyoming Territory granted women the right to vote on December 10, 1869 — 51 years before the 19th Amendment. When Congress threatened to block statehood unless Wyoming stripped women's suffrage, Wyoming refused. It was admitted July 10, 1890, with suffrage intact, and elected the first female governor (Nellie Tayloe Ross) on January 5, 1925. The same sovereignty-over-federal-pressure instinct drives Wyoming's sound money legislation and Goldback adoption.
Wyoming HB 103 (2018) exempted gold and silver bullion from state capital gains tax. Wyoming also has no state income tax. Result: no state-level tax on Goldback or precious metals sales. Federal tax still applies — up to 28% collectibles rate on long-term gains (not standard 0/15/20% capital gains rates). Consult a tax advisor.
Gold was discovered in Wyoming's South Pass area in the 1860s, predating territorial establishment in 1869. South Pass City was a boomtown by the same year Wyoming granted women's suffrage. Today Wyoming is the top US coal producer with major natural gas, uranium, and trona reserves — a commodity-based economy with deep familiarity with commodity-backed exchange.
1-denom = 0.001 oz (0.0311g). 5-denom = 0.005 oz (0.1555g). 10-denom = 0.010 oz (0.3110g). 25-denom = 0.025 oz (0.7776g). 50-denom = 0.050 oz (1.5552g). All 24K via PVD. Complete set = 0.091 oz (2.830g) — melt $291.20 at $3,200/oz. Use the calculator above for live values.
Yes — typically 30–80% above melt at retail. PVD production and distribution costs are real. Paying 50% above melt means gold must rise 50% before melt value recovers your purchase price. Goldbacks are commodity-backed currency with a guaranteed gold floor — not efficient gold accumulation vs. bullion at 3–8% premiums.
MetalMetric is the only tracker with native Goldback support across all states and denominations. Add Wyoming Goldbacks to your free vault at metalmetric.com/vault to track live P&L and melt value alongside your full stack.
All Goldback series use 24K gold and the same denomination structure. The difference is the artwork and issuing state.
| State Series | Launched | |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Goldback | 2019 | Calculator → |
| Nevada Goldback | 2020 | Calculator → |
| New Hampshire Goldback | 2021 | Calculator → |
| Wyoming Goldback | 2021 | Calculator → |
| South Dakota Goldback | 2022 | Calculator → |