Substantial circular copper medal ; the face with a circular central medallion bearing a relief map of Europe showing the routes of the Company, two early biplanes above, circumscribed with the names of the towns served: ‘PARIS PRAGUE VARSOVIE VIENNE BUDAPEST BELGRADE BUCAREST CONSTANTINOPLE’, all circumscribed ‘COMPAGNIE FRANCO ROUMAINE DE NAVIGATION AERIENNE’, inscribed below ‘FONDEE EN AVRIL 1920 PAR ARISTIDE BLANK’ (Founded in April 1920 by Aristide Blank); the reverse with a highly decorative scene depicting the advantages of air travel over other alternatives, an early biplane soaring over an open touring car, a stagecoach and a steam train in a landscape, circumscribed ‘QUÆ SINT QUÆ FUERINT QUÆ MOX VENTURA TRAHANTUR’ (From Virgil’s Georgica 4:393, meaning ‘He sees what is, and was, and is to come’), signed ‘HENRY NOCQ’ (for Henry Nocq, 1868-1944, perhaps best known as the designer of the Greek Inter-Allied victory medal for World War I); copper hallmark to the edge; weight approximately 165 grams (5.8oz); diameter 72.2mm (2.84 inches). The Company was founded on 23 April 1920 and its first service, Paris - Strasbourg, began in September 1920. The Company was the world’s first international transcontinental airline. On 13 October 1921 Albert Deullin and Lionel de Marmier were welcomed at Bucharest-Pipera by King Ferdinand I of Romania, inaugurating the Paris-Bucharest route. On 1 January 1925, the company changed its name to ‘Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aerienne’ (C.I.D.N.A.), reflecting its growing network of routes. On 7 October 1933 the Company was one of the founding constituents of Air France. An historic, important and highly decorative medal.
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