Utah Goldback Gold Note ALPHA, 1/500 ounce

The latest edition of Utah’s Goldback banknotes.

The Utah 2 Goldback depicts Gratia, the personification of grace, through the figure of a pioneer experiencing deep gratitude in the face of an extraordinary event that has left a lasting mark on Utah’s history. In the spring of 1848, during harvest season, the Salt Lake Valley was overrun by massive swarms of grasshoppers. The insects began to destroy the crops, threatening the harvest and confronting the first settlers with the specter of severe food shortages. According to the story commemorated on the Goldback design, the pioneers prayed fervently for help. Soon, vast flocks of California gulls arrived and began eating the locusts, helping to save the settlers’ harvest.

This extraordinary event went down in history as the “Miracle of the Gulls” and remains to this day an important part of Utah’s heritage and the stories of its pioneering history. At the center of Goldback’s composition stands Gratia, who gazes up at the sky with amazement and gratitude. Her facial expression captures an emotional transformation—from fear and uncertainty to relief, hope, and gratitude for the help she received. Above her head stretches a sky filled with California gulls, some of which are depicted with grasshoppers in their beaks. Here, the birds symbolize unexpected deliverance and help that can arrive precisely when it is most needed. In the distance, a thatched cabin is visible, evoking the resourcefulness and ingenuity of Utah’s first settlers. At a time when wood was scarce, the pioneers had to adapt to their surroundings and build their homes from materials available locally. The cabin thus serves as yet another symbol of resilience, creativity, and determination—qualities essential for establishing a new settlement in a challenging environment. All elements of the composition tell a story that goes beyond mere survival. It is a story of humility, gratitude, faith, and the ability to recognize goodness and the blessings received even in the most difficult moments. Gratia reminds us that in the face of crisis, human strength can manifest not only in the struggle against adversity, but also in the ability to accept help and appreciate what enables us to survive.