Goldback UV Feature: Here’s What Collectors Should Know
At a Glance:
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- Goldbacks minted in 2025 or later feature UV-reactive ink.
- Collectors can use the Goldback UV Penlight to authenticate their Goldbacks.
- On this page, learn everything collectors should know about Goldback UV features.
Goldback UV Features: What to Know
A Goldback is a collectible alternative currency note made with real gold. Each single Goldback contains 1/1000th of a troy ounce of 99.99% gold. The highest denomination of Goldback available, the 100 Goldback, contains 1/10 troy ounce of genuine gold. Goldback, Inc., the company behind Goldbacks, has now released Goldbacks for nine states, with a tenth state (Colorado) scheduled for release at some point in 2026.
Goldbacks minted in 2025 or later now feature unique UV-reactive ink. Intended to be a new design element and a fresh security feature, the UV artwork on modern Goldbacks gives investors a chance to authenticate their Goldbacks.
On this page, read about the new UV-reactive ink on modern Goldbacks, how to check your Goldback for UV-reactive ink, and more.
The New UV Goldbacks
Goldbacks have a brand new look, but investors will need a bit of UV light to reveal it. Goldbacks minted in 2025 or later feature UV-reactive light. The UV light effect is typically found on the reverse side of each note, although select Goldback collections feature UV-reactive ink on the obverse side. The entire Idaho Goldback series includes UV-reactive ink on the obverse, giving collectors a whole new feature to love.
The UV lettering and designs on Goldbacks can be revealed with any UV light tool, including the Goldback UV Penlight. For dedicated Goldback collectors and traders, the Goldback UV Penlight is an excellent tool for verifying the authenticity of these popular golden notes.
Which Goldbacks Have UV Effects?
All Goldbacks minted in 2025 and later feature UV-reactive ink.
Prior to the introduction of UV-reactive ink to the Goldback product line in 2025, verifying the authenticity of a Goldback note was tricky. While it is possible to test the gold content of a Goldback, smaller denomination Goldbacks include very little actual gold. As the Goldback collector community continues to grow, security features like UV-reactive ink help traders buy and trade their notes without fear of accepting counterfeit notes.
How to Check the Goldback UV Effect
Only Goldbacks produced in 2025 or later feature the new UV-reactive ink, so traders with pre-2025 Goldbacks will need to use more traditional methods to verify the authenticity of their notes.
For modern Goldbacks, verifying your note’s authenticity has never been easier. The simplest way to verify your Goldback is to use a Goldback UV Penlight. If you don’t have a Goldback UV Penlight, you can also use any source of UV light to check out your Goldback’s UV-reactive ink.
Goldback UV Penlight
The Goldback UV Penlight is an affordable tool specially made to reveal the UV ink on Goldbacks minted in 2025 or later. Simply turn the penlight on, hold it up to the Goldback, and check out that UV artwork!
Hero Bullion is a leading online dealer of Goldbacks and Goldback accessories, including the new Goldback UV Penlight.
Why Do New Goldbacks Have UV-Reactive Ink?
UV-reactive ink has often been the go-to security feature mints use to protect their coins, bars, and other precious metal products against counterfeiters. While Goldbacks minted prior to 2025 featured no UV-reactive ink, the new UV ink on Goldbacks minted in 2025 or later is intended to make the alternative, gold-backed currency more secure. According to Goldback, Inc., the new UV ink feature was introduced for three main reasons:
- Security. UV-reactive ink can deter scammers by making counterfeiting more difficult, adding more security to the entire Goldback product line.
- Easy Verification. Using the Goldback UV Penlight, collectors and traders can quickly and efficiently verify the UV ink security feature on post-2025 Goldbacks.
- Innovation. The UV-reactive ink found on modern Goldbacks introduces new innovation to the iconic alternative currency. Offering an easy way for investors to verify their Goldbacks, the feature makes the notes even easier to use as mediums of exchange.
The introduction of new UV-reactive ink in the Goldback product line comes at a fantastic time for the project. 2025 saw the release of several new Goldback collections, introducing the series of gold notes to new markets of investors and traders. As Goldbacks become more popular among collectors, the fight against counterfeits is likely to become an increasingly serious challenge.
The expanded slate of Goldback denominations introduced in 2025 also makes the new Goldback UV-reactive ink especially important. Collectors can now purchase a 100 Goldback note, which contains 1/10th of a troy ounce of real gold. With that much gold on the line, it’s more important than ever that investors confirm that their Goldbacks are legitimate.
Final Thoughts: What to Know About the New UV-Reactive Goldbacks
Goldbacks minted in 2025 and later feature special UV-reactive ink, a security feature that helps collectors verify the authenticity of their notes. Using a Goldback UV Penlight or another source of UV light, collectors can authenticate their post-2025 Goldbacks by looking for the hidden UV designs and lettering. As the Goldback project continues to expand and new series/denominations are introduced, the new Goldback UV-reactive ink feature helps collectors know that they have the real thing.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
With over six years of experience reporting on precious metals, Michael Roets covers market news, buying guides, and commentary for Hero Bullion.