1/10 Gram "Canadian Maple Leaf" 24 Karat Aurum Gold Note in Bill Sleeve

Description

T
his 1/10 gram 24 karat pure "Canadian Maple Leaf" Aurum Gold Note was produced by Valaurum, Inc., located in Portland, Oregon. This Gold Note is a companion piece to the full one gram Canadian Maple Leaf produced the following year, in 2019. Valaurum, Inc., has been a leader in minting Gold Notes as a means of voluntary tender for businesses in the US States of Nevada, Utah and New Hampshire [next in line: Wyoming and Maine] under the currency umbrella concept of "GoldBacks." Valaurum has also been the forerunner in promoting acceptance of various Aurum Gold Notes as governmentally authorized legal tender in many foreign countries, including Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Ghana and Ireland. The idea of legal tender currency having inherent value instead of being mere paper is hardly a new one, witness the historical use of gold and silver coins. But pure Gold Notes
like Aurums could not be created until precisely weighted gold could be secured and authenticated, as with the Valaurum polyester substrate and security measures employed in the minting of the Aurums, all of which have individual ID numbers. This Note features Canada's most recognizable symbol, its 11-pointed design of the maple leaf, patterned after the National Flag of Canada. While the maple leaf has been Canada's emblem since the 18th Century, the nation had no official  flag design until February 15, 1965. This Gold Note is secured in a Bill Sleeve attached to the inside flap of a Golden Life Card [see photo]. On the left is a label briefly describing what the Note is and the origin of the gold it's made of. A colorfully designed envelope is also included for storing the Note or gifting it to a loved one. Over time, the early Aurum Notes, of which this is one, become harder to find.  They make interesting, enduring gold item collectibles.