El Paso Discovery

In El Paso, Texas, new homeowners John and Naiomi Falvey discovered pieces of history tucked away in a carriage house. The find included documents and artifacts belonging to Lyman William Hoffecker (1868-1955), the designer of the 1935 Old Spanish Trail/El Paso half dollar and a past president of the American Numismatic Association. The items have been unknown to the numismatic community for the past 70 years.

Recognizing the historical significance of the discovery, the Falveys offered the artifacts to El Paso numismatist and award-winning author Jason Elwell. He gladly accepted the treasures, along with Hoffecker’s double-door steel vault, which resided in the carriage house where the files were found. 

Inspired by the find, Elwell is writing a four-part article titled “Go Tell It on the Franklin Mountains…L.W. Hoffecker Is Reborn.” Set to be published in the Texas Numismatic Association’s (TNA) magazine, the series will share how Elwell acquired the files, discuss the Spanish Trail half dollar, provide evidence to support the unfair treatment Hoffecker experienced, and explore Hoffecker’s impact on the hobby. The first installment will be released in the TNA’s December 2025 issue.