Anthony de Francisci

The Peace dollar, first minted in 1921

National Guard Bureau insignia designed by de Francisci, 1921

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]

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.

Medal (Obverse) for The Society of Medalists designed by de Francisci, 1935

Medal (Reverse) for The Society of Medalists designed by de Francisci, 1935

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.

According to his wife, de Francisci greatly admired Abraham Lincoln and featured the slain president on many of his personal works.[12] He designed a Lincoln medal for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in New York.[12] In addition, de Francisci designed the inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair.[8]