5 Oklahoma Goldback

On the Oklahoma 5 Goldback, the virtue Industria, or Industry, is powerfully embodied by a young woman striding through the oil fields during the 1905 Glenpool Oil Strike. This scene captures the exact moment when crews struck black gold, transforming a quiet farming state into an industrial powerhouse.

Clothes still dusted from the earth, the woman’s expression says it all: discovery, pride, and the electric thrill of transformation. Around her waist, she wears a tool belt stamped with “1905,” representing the hands-on effort that laid the foundation of Oklahoma’s economy. Her horseshoe necklace swings as she moves, a traditional sign of good fortune. Floating nearby, honey bees—Oklahoma’s state insect—symbolize the steady, collective work that drives transformation. Industrious by nature, the bee reminds us that true progress is made through disciplined, collaborative effort.

At her feet, Indian Blanket wildflowers bloom in the prairie grass. Native, vibrant, and resilient, they mirror the spirit of the people who built Oklahoma during this period. To the left, an early oil wagon labeled “Glenpool” recalls the rugged early days of petroleum transport, before pipelines reshaped the energy landscape. A windmill spins in the distance, echoing the strength of Oklahoma’s rural backbone. 

Behind her, an oil derrick erupts as wildcatters—early oil prospectors—cheer in disbelief and triumph. These men were risk-takers and visionaries, armed with little more than instinct, grit, and the hope of success. Though the oil boom came with no guarantees, their unwavering determination built towns, livelihoods, and lasting legacy in Oklahoma’s red dirt.

While Oklahoma’s first commercial well—Nellie Johnstone No. 1—was drilled in Bartlesville in 1897, it was the Glenpool discovery in 1905 that sparked a full-blown boom. In just two years, Tulsa’s population exploded, launching it into the national spotlight as the “Oil Capital of the World.” This momentum continued with other major fields like Cushing and Healdton, anchoring Oklahoma as a cornerstone of American energy for decades to come.

Inscribed at the bottom of the note is the state motto: “Labor Omnia Vincit,” or “Labor Conquers All Things.” Few places reflect that ideal more fully than Oklahoma during its rise through industry.

This artwork celebrates the strength, discipline, and hope that built a state. Industria is more than mere effort—it is vision in motion, determination forged through hardship, and the belief that progress is earned. This is Oklahoma’s story: of dust and discovery, of prairie turned to promise, and of a people who dug deep and struck more than oil. They struck opportunity.