This commemorative coin was designed by Lyman William Hoffecker in 1935. He designed the coin to celebrate this historic trade route. At its height, the Old Spanish Trail connected Florida to California by passing through Texas. While it was originally traveled by foot, carriage or pack mule, the trail was eventually connected by the railroad and today, by Interstate-10. The Old Spanish Trail played an important role connecting the Eastern and Western Coasts of the United States and because it was built in the South, it could be traveled year-round.

The obverse (where the principal design is located) features the head of a bull, a nod to the importance of ranching along the Old Spanish Trail. The reverse depicts the trail across the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida with a yucca plant in the foreground.

L. W. Hoffecker was born in Pennsylvania in 1868. When he was 18 years old and working at his local post office, he began collecting coins. This would be the start of a life-long collection for him. Hoffecker, his wife Cora Knapp (1868-1915) and daughter Merle (1896- 1989) moved to El Paso in 1900 where he would open a building supply company. They also worked with the architect Henry C. Trost to design their home at 1514 Montana Ave. After Cora passed away from stomach cancer, Hoffecker remarried Sarah Jane Jennie Watkins (1889-1954).

In 1922, he retired from his business and dedicated himself to traveling the world, coin collecting and dealing. Hoffecker would visit 72 foreign countries and bring back home many items for his collection and to sell to fellow collectors. After returning from his travels, he would begin designing coins like the 1535-1935 Old Spanish Trail Coin. The sales of the coin would help raise funds to open the Museum in the early 1940’s.

1535-1935 Old Spanish Trail Coin (Obverse)

1535-1935 Old Spanish Trail Coin (Reverse)