Anthony de Francisci

Italian American sculptor

Anthony (Antonio) de Francisci (; July 13, 1887 – August 20, 1964) was an Italian American sculptor who designed a number of United States coins and medals. His most famous design was the Peace Dollar, which was first minted in 1921.

De Francisci immigrated to the United States in 1905 and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1913. He was the son of Benedetto de Francisci and Maria Liberante and was married to Mary Teresa Cafarelli. De Francisci "studied under some very fine coin designers: Fraser, MacNeil, and Weinman."

De Francisci served as an Academician of the National Academy of Design and a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society.

Late in 1921, the Commission of Fine Arts held a competition for the design of a new silver dollar and invited "eight prominent sculptors to participate." Several of the entrants had already designed U. S. coins and achieved considerable fame. Although the youngest participant and a novice coin designer, de Francisci "won the competition and took home the $1,500 cash prize." Also, de Francisci designed the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button, unofficially known as the "ruptured duck." The button was intended for wear as a lapel pin on civilian clothing to recognize military service. However, the military did not issue the button. Instead, it was available by private purchase. He modelled the bronze high reliefs of the drum base of the Sesquicentennial flagpole erected in Union Square, New York, in 1924 and dedicated, July 4, 1926, to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The architect for the project was Perry Coke Smith. Starting from the rear, the effects of liberty, rendered as the march of progress in the arts, crafts and sciences of civilization is represented by figures that move towards the Declaration of Independence reproduced on a tablet at front center, while on the right, the effects of tyranny, in which fleeing humanity avidly reach for it. According to his wife, de Francisci greatly admired Abraham Lincoln and featured the slain president on many of his personal works. He designed a Lincoln medal for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in New York. In addition, de Francisci designed the inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair.

Name DateNotesAdolph Alexander Weinman Portrait Plaque1915De Francisci made this tribute to his mentor WeinmanMaine Centennial commemorative Half Dollar1920National Guard Bureau Insignia1921for Department of DefensePeace Dollar1921Alessandro L. Chiostergi Portrait Plaque1922James Douglas Gold Medal1922 (abt. )For American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum EngineersAmerican Eagle Pin1922 (abt. )Texas Cavalry Medal192412th issue, Fiat Vita1935The Society of Medalists seriesHonorable Service Lapel Button1939Congressional Gold Medal to George C. Marshall1946 Congressional Gold Medal to General Pershing1946Inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair1964Texas Ranger Congressional MedalLincoln Medal1963Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal seriesCooper Medal1964Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal seriesAlfred P. Sloan Radio TV AwardAward for distinguished public service in highway safety

De Francisci was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.