In April 1858 Coppin began to take an interest in public affairs - he became a councillor in the Richmond municipality, and in October 1858 was elected for the South Western Province in the Victorian Legislative Council[REF][REF] for a term of five years.
Coppin was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for East Melbourne[REF] in May 1874[REF] and did useful work; for example, he established post office savings banks.