France Italy – Galileo Galilei, Universal Medallic Series of Famous Men, 1818 Obverse: GALILEUS GALILEI – Bust of Galileo Galilei facing right, with high collar; signed GAYRARD F. below truncation. Reverse: Inscription in six lines: NATUS PISIS IN ITALIA. AN. M. D. LXIV. OBIIT AN. M. DC. XLII. Below: SERIES NUMISMATICA UNIVERSALIS VIRORUM ILLUSTRIUM M.DCCC.XVIII. Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician whose discoveries laid the foundation for modern science. Born in Pisa, he initially studied medicine before turning his attention to mathematics and natural philosophy. Galileo’s curiosity and insistence on observation rather than blind acceptance of authority made him a revolutionary thinker in an age still dominated by Aristotelian ideas. In 1609, after hearing about a new Dutch invention called the telescope, Galileo built his own improved version. He turned it toward the night sky and made astonishing discoveries: mountains and craters on the Moon, countless stars in the Milky Way, and four moons orbiting Jupiter. These findings provided strong evidence that not everything revolved around the Earth, supporting the heliocentric theory proposed by Copernicus. Galileo also conducted groundbreaking experiments in motion and mechanics. By studying falling bodies and inclined planes, he discovered that acceleration is independent of mass, a concept that later influenced Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. His combination of experiment, mathematics, and systematic observation helped establish the modern scientific method. However, his support for the Copernican system brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church. In 1633, he was tried by the Inquisition and forced to recant his views, spending the rest of his life under house arrest. Despite this, Galileo continued to write and study. His courage to challenge established beliefs and rely on evidence transformed our understanding of the universe, earning him the title “Father of Modern Science.”