Well, I wasn't expecting this. I was checking my mail yesterday and what did I find? Have a look below.
Yep, it's a goldback. Wow!
For those who don't know, the goldback is a private currency, currently marketed in five US states. They look like a normal banknote, but instead of being worthless paper, they have a thin layer of gold in between two clear polyester layers. Not much—it is 1/1000th of an ounce for this one—but having any is pretty cool. As I understand it, a number of individuals have taken the note apart and confirmed that it is real gold and in the amount claimed.
In the US there are a number of businesses that will accept goldbacks as payment instead of US dollars, which is really neat.
The company behind the notes is taking care to avoid angering the government. They make clear that it's not US legal tender, that it's privately issued, that it's only voluntarily accepted.
Whether this will continue to spread or whether the US government will try to shut it down in the future, time will tell, but for now it's pretty cool.
Here are a few more shots.
Even if I could spend it here, I don't think I would. I'll just hold on to it. Having just one is more of a curiosity and not really useful or valuable, but just the same it is really need to have.
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon. |
Very cool.👍
!pimp
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I hope I can get more free goldbacks!
That IS really neat and makes me want one, even though I am not a stacker. :)
I don't know if these would be very good to stack, honestly. The premium is much higher than just buying 1oz gold coins. They are more of just a novelty I think, maybe a conversation piece to introduce some of the problems of a fiat money system. Fun to have one anyway!
I understand and I didn't try to see a price, just thought it was neat from a novelty point of view. :)
Wow great score!
But I'm confused.
So if it's private currency, where does it come from? Who makes them and why if it's not legal tender?
They must have a lot of money behind them to make it and give it away, seemingly without any purpose.
At first glance/thought it reminded me a little bit of the gold ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except that gold ticket had a definite purpose.
Only the government can mint legal tender, so any private company claiming that would be facing a counterfeit money charge. I don't know the details of the company behind these. According to Wikipedia the company name is Valaurum and they have created more than $20 million worth of Goldbacks to this point. No, they don't give them away. You have to buy them. I was just gifted this by someone who will remain nameless.
It does look a lot like Charlie's golden ticket, doesn't it?
OMG 20mil worth....😱 so they mint them then sell them and people buy them and...
yep lets just say it's exciting like winning a charlie's golden ticket shall we...🤣
Who send it? Lucky bastard!
Very lucky! Sorry, they requested I not mention the name.
I don't own any of these, but I have seen them before. It's always amazing how detailed and beautiful the art is on them.
They definitely spent some money on the design and the actual making of them.
Gift ? !BBH
Yep, gift from someone who requested I don't mention them.
That makes sense !BBH !PIMP
You must be killin' it out here!
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You earned 10.000 PIMP for the strong hand.
They're getting a workout and slapped 3/3 possible people today.
Read about some PIMP Shit or Look for the PIMP District
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Very cool! I love those things. Gold in bill form!
!BBH
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I now have the Wyoming and the same Utah version $1 Goldbacks. I like these.
Cool, @summertooth !!!