Anthony de Francisci
Encyclopedia
Anthony de Francisci (July 13, 1887 in Palermo
, Italy – October 20, 1964 in Manhattan, New York) 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 "studied under some very fine coin designers: Fraser, MacNeil
, and Weinman
."
of the National Academy of Design
and a Fellow
of the National Sculpture Society
.
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], after he had shown the winning one to President Harding
. The President expressed his pleasure and approval.'" 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 and 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'" 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."
Centennial commemorative half dollar. 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
.
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Italy – October 20, 1964 in Manhattan, New York) was an Italian-American sculptor who designed a number of United States coins and medals. His most famous design was the Peace Dollar
Peace Dollar
The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its reverse depicts an eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend...
, which was first minted in 1921.
Early life & training
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 CafarelliTeresa de Francisci
Teresa Cafarelli de Francisci is best known as the model for the depiction of Liberty on the obverse of the Peace Dollar and as the wife of artist Anthony de Francisci.- Personal life :...
. De Francisci "studied under some very fine coin designers: Fraser, MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil was an American sculptor born in Chelsea, Massachusetts.He was an instructor in industrial art at Cornell University from 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil of Henri M. Chapu and Alexandre Falguière in Paris...
, and Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman was an American sculptor, born in Karlsruhe, Germany.- Biography :Weinman arrived in the United States at the age of 10. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union and later studied at the Art Students League of New York with sculptors Augustus St....
."
Career
De Francisci served as an AcademicianAcademician
The title Academician denotes a Full Member of an art, literary, or scientific academy.In many countries, it is an honorary title. There also exists a lower-rank title, variously translated Corresponding Member or Associate Member, .-Eastern Europe and China:"Academician" may also be a functional...
of the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
and a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the National Sculpture Society
National Sculpture Society
Founded in 1893, the National Sculpture Society was the first organization of professional sculptors formed in the United States. The purpose of the organization was to promote the welfare of American sculptors, although its founding members included several renowned architects. The founding...
.
Peace Dollar
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." 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. BakerRaymond T. Baker
Raymond Thomas Baker was a rich United States businessman who was Director of the United States Mint from 1917 to 1922.-Biography:...
], after he had shown the winning one to President Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
. The President expressed his pleasure and approval.'" 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 and 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'" 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."
Other works
De Francisci created the 1920 MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
Centennial commemorative half dollar. 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
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
. 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
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and featured the slain president on many of his personal works. He designed a Lincoln medal for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans
Hall of Fame for Great Americans
The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is the original hall of fame in the United States. "Fame" here means "renown"...
in New York. In addition, de Francisci designed the inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
.
Selected works
| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adolph Alexander Weinman Adolph Alexander Weinman Adolph Alexander Weinman was an American sculptor, born in Karlsruhe, Germany.- Biography :Weinman arrived in the United States at the age of 10. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union and later studied at the Art Students League of New York with sculptors Augustus St.... Portrait Plaque |
1915 | De Francisci made this tribute to his mentor Weinman |
| Maine Centennial commemorative Half Dollar Half dollar (United States coin) Half dollar coins have been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. Sometimes referred to as the fifty-cent piece, the only U.S. coin that has been minted more consistently is the cent.-Circulation:... |
1920 | |
| National Guard Bureau Insignia | 1921 | for Department of Defense United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense is the U.S... |
| Peace Dollar Peace Dollar The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its reverse depicts an eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend... |
1921 | |
| Alessandro L. Chiostergi Portrait Plaque | 1922 | |
| James Douglas James Douglas (businessman) James S. Douglas was a Canadian mining engineer and businessman who introduced a number of metallurgical innovations in copper mining.... Gold Medal |
1922 (abt.) | For American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers is a professional body for mining and metallurgy, with 90,000 members. It was founded in 1871 by 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States, being one of the first national engineering societies in the... |
| American Eagle Pin | 1922 (abt.) | |
| Medal #12 | 1935 | The Society of Medalists series |
| Honorable Service Lapel Button | ||
| Congressional Gold Medal to General Pershing John J. Pershing John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I... |
1946 | |
| Inaugural medal for the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair | 1964 | |
| Texas Ranger Texas Ranger Division The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas... Congressional Medal |
||
| Cooper Peter Cooper Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States... Medal |
1964 | Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal series |
| Lincoln Medal | Hall of Fame for Great Americans medal series | |
| Alfred P. Sloan Alfred P. Sloan Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr. was an American business executive in the automotive industry. He was a long-time president, chairman, and CEO of General Motors Corporation... Radio-TV Award |
Award for distinguished public service in highway safety |
External links
- "Antonio de Francisci - The Veteran's Engraver". Excellent background on Anthony de Francisci.
- Artist Anthony de Francisci. Anthony de Francisci featured on Smithsonian American Art Museum website. Includes examples of his work preserved at the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. - "The Peace Dollar" (includes a biography)