Anthony (Antonio) de Francisci (Italian pronunciation:[defranˈtʃiʃʃi]; July 13, 1887 – August 20, 1964) was an Italian-Americansculptor who designed a number of United States coins and medals. His most famous design was the Peace Dollar, which was first minted in 1921.[1]
Early life and training
De Francisci immigrated to the United States in 1905[2] and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1913.[3] He was the son of Benedetto de Francisci and Maria Liberante and was married to Mary Teresa Cafarelli.[4] De Francisci "studied under some very fine coin designers: Fraser, MacNeil, and Weinman."[5]
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."[7] 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."[7] Regarding this event, "The Dec. 20, 1920, issue of the Baltimore Sun reported…'Eight medalists, all of them from New York, were in the competition for the award. The designs in bas-relief were exhibited privately in the office of [Mint Director Raymond T. Baker], after he had shown the winning one to President Harding. The President expressed his pleasure and approval.'"[7] Becoming the designer of the Peace Dollar and receiving considerable publicity as a result of this accomplishment greatly boosted the reputation of de Francisci, taking his career to a whole new level.
De Francisci used his wife Mary Teresa as the model for the Liberty head of the Peace Dollar.[1] When asked about its design, de Francisci "told a newspaper columnist that the portrait was not a 'photograph' of Mrs. de Francisci but was a 'composite' face that 'typified something of America'"[7] De Francisci also said about the design of the Peace Dollar "that his goal was to capture the spirit of the country--its intellectual speed, vigor and vitality."[7]
Other works
De Francisci sculpted the commemorative 1920 Maine Centennial half dollar.[8] 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[9] of the drum base of the Sesquicentennial flagpole[10] erected in Union Square, New York, in 1924[11] 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.
^ abVan Allen, Leroy C. and A. George Mallis. Comprehensive Catalogue and Encyclopedia of U.S. Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars, 2d ed. (New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc., 1977), 264.
^U.S. Immigration Service. List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival (Ship Manifest), Immigration Service Form 1500 B. S.S. Sicilian sailing from Napoli on November 16, 1905, and arriving in Port of New York on December 1, 1905. American Family Immigration History Center (Ellis Island Archives) posted this manifest online at www.ellisisland.org.
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