1.5 Euro Best Friend of Charleston

Reverse

Series and face value inside a central circle. Outside the central circle, an image of a railway track.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
HISTORIA DEL FERROCARRIL
1,5 EURO
M

Translation: History of railways

Edge

Plain

Comment

For the year 2021, since the European Year of the Rail and the 80th Anniversary of Renfe are celebrated, the FNMT-RCM issues a collection of 20 coins dedicated to the History of the Railways. This series reproduces a selection of trains and locomotives that have been relevant throughout its history.
Best Friend of Charleston: In the United States, the age of the railway began on January15 1831 when the South Carolina Railroad launched the country’s first regular service. The train was hauled by the Best Friend of Charleston. Designed by E.L.Miller, an engineer in the employ of the operating company, this, the first autochthonous locomotive, was made by the West Point Foundry (New York). Thus, the first step was taken towards freeing American railways from their initial dependence while the foundations were laid for the country’s industry to become one of the biggest in the world. Between them, all the companies, such as the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the Schenectady Locomotive Works and the American Locomotive Company, made 176,750 steam locomotives over a period of 119 years.
Put into production on the initiative of Horatio Allen but designed by engineer E.L.Miller, the Best Friend of Charleston was noted for the vertical position of the boiler, which jutted out from the end of the chassis. The furnace, placed horizontally beneath the boiler, featured a double wall full of water, considered to be the first tender. Two cylinders, situated at the opposite end of the boiler, drove an axis worked by a crankshaft. The two driving wheels had a diameter of 1,371 mm; working pressure was 3.5 kg/cm2; and the locomotive reached a top speed of 32 km/h whilst hauling five cars.
On June 17, there was an explosion caused by the mishandling of the safety valves by the stoker, who died as a result. The locomotive was rebuilt with a number of improvements and returned to service with the apt name of the Phoenix.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2021 M	7000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1.5 Euro (Best Friend of Charleston) 2021 coin.