ALGÉRIE - ALGERIA Third Republic (1870-1940). Medal, first flight from Marseille to Algiers and back in one day for Coli and Roget, by J. G. Achard 1920, Paris (Janvier et Berchot). CAPITAINE COLI - LIEUTENANT ROGET. Busts side by side on the left, signature J. G. ACHARD 1920 and exergue: AV CAPITAINE COLI AV LIEVTENANT ROGET/ PREMIERS NAVIGATEVRS DE L'AIR QVI FIRENT/ EN AVION DANS LA MÊME JOVRNEE L'ALLER/ ET RETOUR GLORIEVX MARSEILLE ALGER/ LE 26 JANVIER 1919. Rv. MARSEILLE ALGER. A meharist contemplates an aircraft in front of an Algerian town; signature J. G. ACHARD 1920. Ruedas 8 (aviation) - Esc.308 ; Bronze - 62,76 g - 51 mm - 12 h From an iNumis sale, 6 December 2016, No. 341, then from the Pierre-René Bauquis collection. Marked (triangle) BRONZE. Superb. François Coli (1881-1927) began his career as a merchant marine captain. In 1914, he joined the infantry, as there was no room for him in the navy, and rose through the ranks to become a captain. In 1916, he obtained his pilot's licence and ended the war as a squadron captain, awarded the Croix de Guerre with ten commendations and Officer of the Légion d'Honneur, but he had lost his right eye. This did not stop him from flying and, on 26 January 1919, he and Lieutenant Henri Roget succeeded in crossing the Mediterranean twice from Miramas to Algiers and then Rosas. He broke the record for the longest straight-line flight. He died in 1927 with Charles Nungesser during their attempt to cross the Atlantic in the l'Oiseau Blanc aircraft.