Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #79 - Pompeo Coppini

Ever wonder what Italian-born artist Pompeo Coppini, designer/sculptor of the 1934-38 Texas Independence Centennial Half Dollar looked like? Wonder no longer!

Pompeo Coppini, Circa 1920s

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)


Pompeo Coppini with Texas Independence Centennial Half Dollar Models, Circa 1934

(Image Credit: Montgomery County Sentinel, July 12, 1934. Fair use - Education.)

Coppini (1870-1957) was a prolific artist/sculptor with dozens of public sculptures/statues to his credit. He did not create a large numismatic portfolio, however, with just the Texas Centennial half dollar and a 1931 medal for Chevrolet in his portfolio (he did not design the Chevrolet medal, he sculpted the models for it from a design by A.L. Cooper). Recently, a one-off 1905 Fiesta Medal (San Antonio) was found that might be an early piece of Coppini's.