Arizona 100 Goldback

Arizona 100 Goldback - Contains 1/10 T Oz. of 24k gold

Artwork Description ----

Set in Window Rock, Arizona—a sacred site and the seat of the Navajo Nation—this artwork honours 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.”