25 Idaho Goldback Alpha

The Idaho 25 Goldback depicts one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century through the virtue of Scientia, or knowledge and understanding. On December 20, 1951, Experimental Breeder Reactor I in Arco, Idaho, became the first power plant in the world to generate electricity with nuclear energy, lighting four bulbs. The female scientist in the artwork references Idaho’s contributions to science and engineering, including women working at the highest levels of research. The equations on the board behind her were critical to this moment in history Written on the note is a quote from Idaho native Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television: “There’s nothing worth knowing that isn’t difficult.”