The gold was donated to the state by AngloGold Ashanti and Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company (CC&V) as part of the Capitol dome restoration project. The gold doré bullion (an alloy of gold and silver) displayed September 2011 originally weighed more than 60 pounds and contained an estimated 600+ ounces of gold and 300+ ounces of silver. Up to 75 ounces of 24 karat gold, valued at approximately $120,000, was mined, refined and held especially for the project.

“It was Colorado gold that originally covered the Capitol over a hundred years ago,” said State Architect Larry Friedberg.  “We are especially pleased that AngloGold Ashanti shares our respect for the building’s history and continues its legacy by once again donating the gold from the same Colorado source more than a century later.”

Sixty-five ounces of the pure metal will be sent to Florence, Italy, where it will be rolled into 1/8,000 millimeter tissue-thin sheets of gold leaf that are 3 1/8” square. The leaf will then be applied to a copper base plate and ultimately to the dome structure. Project managers estimate it will require approximately 140,000 sheets of the leaf to gild the dome, applied at a rate of 50 to 100 square feet per day when this phase of the project starts in the summer 2013. The unused portion of the donated gold will remain with the State for use on the dome at a later date should the gold leaf require future replacement or repair.

The restoration work on the dome has been hidden behind scaffolding and a white scrim for more than a year. It is a common misperception that the dome is constructed out of stone. The majority of the structure visible from outside the building actually is made of cast iron. Crews at the dome have already finished restoration and repairs to the cast iron surrounding the exterior observation deck – the same location where damage in 2006 helped galvanize the effort to restore the aging cast iron dome.

The State has taken great measures to ensure it preserves the historical integrity of the building during the restoration. Whenever possible, broken or damaged pieces of the cast iron were repaired, and only replaced as a last resort.

The first two levels of scaffolding and scrim have protected work on the observation deck and lower portion of the dome. The next level of scaffolding and scrim is expected to go up before the gold leaf is applied in summer 2013, and will shroud the entire dome – top to bottom – until the project’s completion in late 2014.

“Participating in this initiative aligns with AngloGold Ashanti and CC&V’s values in that safety is number one and the community and society in which we operate will be better off for having been there,” said Ron Largent, Executive Vice President of AngloGold Ashanti’s Americas Operations. “The donation of gold from CC&V has been mined by employees dedicated to safety and environmental stewardship. They all take pride in knowing they played a significant role in the restoration of the capitol dome.”

In 2010, the Colorado General Assembly began the process of diverting funds from the State Historical Fund (SHF) in order to repair the structure. This resulted in cutting the grant-making capacity of SHF 50-60%, affecting local, regional and statewide sustainability activities to other significant historic sites across the state.  Colorado Preservation, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1984 to promote historic preservation by providing information, education, training, expertise and advocacy, is the statewide, nonprofit historic preservation organization serving as the fiscal agent to accept public and corporate donations for the repair of the dome. These donations help offset the impact to the grant-making capacity of the SHF.

It is easy to support the dome restoration project – simply text the word DOME from any wireless phone or device to 50555 to make a $10 donation. To give more, donate online,  or send your gift by check made payable to Capitol Dome Restoration Fund, c/o Colorado Preservation, Inc., 1420 Ogden St., Suite 103, Denver, CO 80218. ALL individual donations go directly to the restoration of the capitol dome, and are tax-deductible.

The State Architects Office is an office of the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, which provides quality services to enhance state government success. From human resources to central services, procurement to payment, administrative courts to financial reporting, DPA is working together to serve Colorado.

Media Coverage

9News - Pieces of gold for Colorado capitol dome en route to Italy

9News - Inside the construction on Colorado’s Capitol dome

Denver Business Journal - Gold for Colorado’s Capitol heading to Italy

Denver Post – Ingots enroute to Italy will return as gold leaf for Colorado Capitol

The Denver Gold Group was established in 1989 as a not-for-profit industry association to promote investment in – and education about – precious metal equities and their underlying commodities. DGG also supports responsible mining initiatives in recognition of the unrivalled wealth creating potential of mineral endowments.

In providing the sponsorship, Timothy Wood, Executive Director of DGG said, “Mining remains foundational to Colorado’s economy and we are proud to partner in the structural restoration of one of the state’s most important symbols.”

“Share in the Care Colorado is our shared opportunity as Coloradans to celebrate the history of our state and be good stewards of the treasures of Colorado for future generations,” Robert Musgraves, Executive Director of Colorado Preservation, Inc. said. “The State Capitol is ‘the people’s house’and a symbol of Colorado and the industries, such as mining, that have made it great.  We are honored to work with the Denver Gold Group on this important mission. ”

The exterior structure of the dome and the architectural details that decorate its surface are made of cast iron.  Water infiltration and the intense freeze-thaw cycle of the Colorado climate has weakened the mild steel bolts and screws holding the hundreds of pieces of the architectural assembly together.  The observation deck has been closed to all visitors since a portion of the cast iron cladding fell on it when fasteners failed in 2006. A complete assessment of the damage has been completed since then, and beginning in the winter of 2012 the dome will begin.The extensive repair process, which involves complete removal of the paint covering the cast iron and the replacement of the 110 year-old bolts with new stainless steel fasteners, is expected to take more than two years. In addition to repairing the cast iron, the gilded copper roofing surface of the dome will be removed and recycled prior to its complete restoration.

In 2010, the legislature appropriated $4 million from the State Historical Fund (SHF) so that restoration efforts could begin.  Colorado Preservation, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1984 to promote historic preservation by providing information, education, training, expertise and advocacy, has taken on the critical role of heading up Share in the Care Colorado to raise the remaining $13 million needed by July 2014.  The goal of the campaign is to raise the funds to repair the dome privately so that the dome can be restored and the capacity of the SHF, which is so important for every community in the state, can be maintained.  By raising the funds needed to restore the dome privately, an equal amount of money can be retained in the State Historical Fund grant program, which creates $6 of economic activity for every dollar it awards. That means by raising the remaining $13 million needed for the restoration, the people ofColorado will help to secure $78 million of economic activity in communities acrossColorado at a time when they need it most.

In addition to the Denver Gold Group, many individuals, local businesses and non profit organizations have already stepped up to help including AngloGold Ashanti, the Colorado Mining Association, KUSA/9News, the Colorado Education Association, Comcast,  KEZW and KOSI radio, Radius Media, AT&T Colorado, Colorado Humanities, Circuit Media, and Havey Productions.

Support from AT&T Colorado has also made it easy for the public to participate in the campaign.  Simply text the word DOME from any wireless phone or device to 50555 to make a $10 donation. Togive more, donate online at www.ShareInTheCareColorado.org or send your gift by check made payable to Capitol Restoration Trust Fund c/o Colorado Preservation, Inc., 2100 Downing St., Denver, CO 80205. ALLindividual donations go directly to the restoration of the capitol dome.

*Following a text to DOME at 50555, a one-time $10 donation will appear on your next mobile bill as a separate line item, recognized as a tax deductible donation. The mobile bill can be used as a tax receipt or you can view and print one at mGive.org/receipt.  There are no extra or hidden fees, but message and data rates may apply. Full terms at mGive.org/T)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Danielle Dascalosddascalos@comcast.net

720-837-3845

www.shareinthecarecolorado.org

Centennial Statehouse: Colorado’s Greatest Treasure from Havey Productions on Vimeo.