Watch List notes:

Italy, 1784 Medal. Medal. 1784. Italy. Paolo Andreani, 1763-1823. Medal, 1784. Silver. 43.5mm, 28.7g. Celebrating the first manned flight in Italy. Obv: PAVLVS ANDREANVS PATR MEDIOL AEREONAVTA; Bust right. Rx: AVSVS ES VNVS ITALORVM: Balloon. Beautiful patina and color. Rare. AU. Commissioned by HRE Joseph II, shortly after completion of the March flight, and is considered to have been struck in the same year. Although HRE Joseph II was invited to the event, he declined, stating that he didn't want to witness a suicide. The Montgolfier Brothers had taken the first balloon flight in France in 1783, so this contemporaneously commemorates a very early event in the history of lighter-than-air flight/aviation – hence its desirability. (William J. Goetz).