Florida 10 Goldback 1/100th ozt 24K Gold

Lady Virtue: Innovatio (Innovation)
 Enduring Principle: “Innovative ideas build futures.”
 Long Version:
 The Florida Ten Goldback highlights the virtue “Innovatio” (Innovation), depicted as a spirited 
flapper riding the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). This artwork celebrates the transformative 
impact of the FEC, a visionary railway established by Henry Flagler in the late 1800s and early 
1900s, which dramatically shaped Florida's economy and landscape. Originally connecting 
Jacksonville to St. Augustine, the FEC gradually expanded south, ultimately reaching Key West 
in 1912. Known as the "Overseas Railroad," this final stretch was an engineering feat that 
connected mainland Florida to the U.S.'s southernmost point, symbolizing humanity's capacity 
to innovate and overcome obstacles.
 Our virtue Innovatio is styled as a 1920s flapper, representing the freedom, excitement, and new 
opportunities brought by the railway. Wind flows through her hair and dress as she smiles, 
capturing the liberation and excitement that the FEC inspired among Florida’s residents and 
visitors. An open train door behind her hints at the boundless horizons and innovations the 
railway unlocked, while the ticket in her hand speaks to the new adventures and journeys it 
enabled.
 The train, inspired by the historic FEC locomotive No. 153 (a 4-6-2 ALCO steam engine now 
displayed at Miami’s Gold Coast Railroad Museum), is steeped in history. This locomotive once 
transported President Calvin Coolidge and was one of the last trains to run before the 
devastating 1935 hurricane, which severely damaged the Key West extension and ended its 
operational life.
 Surrounding Innovatio are symbols of Florida’s vibrant natural and cultural landscapes: a 
sandwich tern and brown pelican soar above, representing the region’s unique wildlife. 
Bottlenose dolphins swim below, connecting to Florida’s rich marine life and symbolizing wisdom 
and adaptability. In the background, arches inspired by the iconic stone arches of the Overseas 
Railroad pay homage to the engineering brilliance required to span the open waters of the Keys. 
These arches reflect not only the railway’s physical achievement across challenging terrain but 
also the resilience and vision that helped Florida’s east coast thrive.
 Through this artwork, Innovatio manifests the enduring principle, “Innovative ideas build 
futures.” She celebrates the Florida East Coast Railway as a monumental achievement that 
reshaped Florida’s history, embodying the thrill of discovery, the triumph of human ingenuity, and 
the resilience needed to forge ahead into new frontiers