Medal commemorating the first manned balloon flights
Coins, Medals & Tokens
1784
Medal, Audacia Felix, commemorating the invention of the air balloon in 1783, struck by order of King Louis XVI in 1784. Bronze; 51mm diameter. Obverse legend, Audacia Felix; representations of the Montgolfier fire balloon and also an air balloon; legend of other flights of : LF D'Arlandes et F Pilatre, 21 Nov 1783; JAC Charles et MN Robert, 1 Dec 1783. Reverse border, circle of stars; exergue legend, Patefacto per aera itinere a Josepho et Stephano Montgolfier V. Junii MDCCLXXXIII, rei memoriam posteritati tradi jussit Ludovicus XVI, anno MDCCLXXXIV [ie trans: Struck in commemoration of the Journey of Joseph and Stephen Montgolfier on the 5th June, 1783, as a remembrance to posterity by order of Louis XVI. 1784. Audacia Felix = Fortunate is he who attempts audacious things