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.
