Aurum® technology offers an alternative way to hold physical value in a world dominated by cards, apps, and online ledgers. Aurum® is a patented process that permanently bonds precise amounts of 24-karat gold to a flexible polymer substrate, producing ultra-thin notes that contain real gold you can see and handle.
The Goldback®
The best-known product built on this technology is the Goldback®: a series of voluntary local currency notes available in select U.S. states. Goldbacks® are Aurum® notes with specific denominations, designs, and state themes. Aurum® is the underlying manufacturing method while Goldbacks® are the flagship implementation and have effectively defined this category for most buyers and collectors.
Each Goldback® begins as a micro-thin layer of 24K gold distributed evenly across a clear polymer sheet. The gold layer is calibrated so that the total gold content of the finished note matches its stated weight and denomination. Instead of concentrating the metal in a coin or bar, Aurum® spreads it in a uniform film, then seals it inside protective layers.
This construction creates a note that flexes like a durable paper bill while protecting the embedded gold from fingerprints, abrasion, and most everyday wear. Transparent or translucent windows in the design allow direct visual inspection of the metal, emphasizing that the value is not symbolic or digital, but actual precious metal.
Design, Security, and Artwork
Goldbacks® pair this engineering with high-resolution printing. Full-color artwork, intricate line work, microtext, and patterned backgrounds are printed onto the Aurum® substrate. Each state series features allegorical figures and cultural motifs intended to reflect local history and values, so the notes function both as tiny bullion pieces and as art-driven collectibles.
Security and authenticity features are built into the design. UV-fluorescent elements reveal hidden details under ultraviolet light on bills produced in 2025 and on, fine-line printing resists simple reproduction, and complex patterns complicate counterfeiting. These features help users distinguish genuine Goldbacks® and reinforce trust in the brand and the underlying Aurum® technology.
A Different Way to Hold Precious Metals
For buyers accustomed to traditional bullion, Goldbacks® provides another way to hold physical gold. Coins, rounds, and bars have long served as reliable stores of value, but they often require larger upfront purchases and are awkward to use for small transactions. Many owners simply store them rather than keep them on hand.
Goldbacks® address this by offering fractional gold ownership in small, clearly denominated increments. Each note corresponds to a specific fraction of a troy ounce of gold, allowing people to start with a lower entry cost and add to their holdings one note at a time. Because they resemble paper money, they are easier to carry, handle, and potentially spend than loose metal.
For those skeptical of fiat currency or concerned about long-term inflation, carrying physically allocated gold in a spendable, divisible format can be particularly useful. Goldbacks® provide a way to hold gold outside of bank accounts and digital systems while still fitting neatly in a wallet or cash drawer.
How Goldbacks® Work in Everyday Situations
Goldbacks® are not legal tender like federal notes and are not issued by a central bank. Instead, they function as voluntary local currency in certain participating states. Their accepted value in trade depends on the amount of gold in each note and the willingness of merchants and individuals to use them; no one is required by statute to accept them.
In some regions, networks of businesses choose to accept Goldbacks® for goods and services, sometimes with posted exchange rates relative to U.S. dollars. Because the system is voluntary and still relatively niche, acceptance varies. New users are usually encouraged to contact a merchant ahead of time to confirm whether Goldbacks® are accepted before trying to spend them on everyday purchases.
From an intrinsic standpoint, the value of a Goldback® is tied primarily to the quantity of 24K gold embedded in the note and the current spot price of gold, plus any extra premium the market assigns to the format, artwork, or brand. Most users rely on consistent manufacturing standards and clearly labeled content rather than testing each individual piece.
Cultural and Economic Significance of Goldback®s
Culturally and economically, Goldbacks® sit at the intersection of bullion, art, and monetary experimentation. They attract sound money proponents who favor tangible, commodity-based value; collectors who appreciate detailed artwork and state-specific themes; and gold buyers who want a more spendable and fractional way to hold physical metal.
Bonding gold within a flexible polymer sheet also changes how physical gold can be stored, transported, and exchanged. Compared with traditional bullion, Goldbacks® are compact for a given value, pre-denominated for smaller transactions, and shielded from much of the wear that loose metal can experience. At the same time, they remain private, tangible assets in the owner’s possession, rather than balances maintained on a third-party ledger.
As debates continue about inflation, central bank digital currencies, and the future of cash, Goldbacks® produced with Aurum® technology represent a parallel track rather than a replacement for existing monetary systems. They are unlikely to displace coins or bars in large bullion allocations, but they expand the options for buying physical gold in smaller increments, participating in voluntary exchange networks, and using visually engaging pieces as teaching tools about money and precious metals.
By merging Aurum’s® gold-embedding process with thoughtfully designed, denominated notes, Goldbacks® offer a distinctive and increasingly recognized way to hold and interact with real, physical gold.
