100 Arizona Goldback – Libertas (Liberty)

Set against the monumental red rocks of Window Rock, Arizona, the seat of the Navajo Nation, the 100 Arizona Goldback honors the remarkable legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. This design embodies Libertas, or Liberty, celebrating courage, freedom, and the resilience of Indigenous heritage.

In the foreground, a Navajo Code Talker crouches in full WWII Marine uniform, radio in hand, representing the hundreds of Navajo Marines who created and transmitted the only unbreakable military code of the war. Using their native language, once forbidden in schools, they relayed crucial orders across the Pacific, from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, without a single message ever being deciphered. During the Battle of Iwo Jima alone, more than 800 coded messages were transmitted flawlessly, directly shaping the outcome of the battle.

Towering behind him is Libertas, a timeless symbol of liberty and Navajo strength. She wears a concho belt, a squash blossom necklace, and a flowing dress adorned with traditional Navajo patterns. In her hand, a spear represents the Navajo’s enduring tradition of protecting their people and land, while her seven-spiked crown radiates light, uniting the universal ideal of freedom with Indigenous resilience. Eagles soar overhead, symbols of vigilance and liberty, while Marines advance across cactus-strewn terrain, linking their heroic service to the land of Arizona itself.

The background subtly features the historic Iwo Jima flag, a powerful reminder of the victories made possible by the Code Talkers, alongside the seal of the Navajo Code Talker Museum, affirming the collaboration with the Navajo Nation to preserve this incredible legacy.

Inscription: “Our language was our strongest weapon.”