[6] 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.

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.

'"[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.

[8] Also, de Francisci designed the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button, unofficially known as the "ruptured duck."

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.