2 Baiocco Papal States (752-1870) Copper

1799, Roman Republic (Rome City as Napoleonic State). Copper 2 Baiocchi Coin.

Mint Year: 1799
Reference: Pagani 1, C#6.5.
Denomination: 2 Baiocchi (Due Baiocchi)
Material: Copper
Weight: 18.58gm
Diameter: 36mm

Obverse: Value (Two Baiocchi) inside wreath.
Legend: DVE BAIOC CHI

Reverse: Liberty cap on top of fasces, A in left field
Legend: REPVBBLICA ROMANA / AP (in exergue)

For your consideration a scarce copper coin of the short lived roman republic, which was a republican movement fostered by the French Revolution. It submerged the Papal States in 1978-1798. After that period the Papal States maintained their authority until 1850. This variation features the known misspelled double BB in REPUBLICA, which dates this coin to the year 1799.

The Roman Republic (Italian: Repubblica Romana) was proclaimed on February 15, 1798 after Louis Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome on February 10.

The Roman Republic was a client republic under the French Directory composed of territory conquered from the Papal States. Pope Pius VI was exiled to France and died there in 1799. In 1799 it was united with another French client state, the Tiberina Republic. The Roman Republic was short-lived, as the Papal States were restored in June of 1800.

The Roman Republic flag was a vertical tricolour black-white-red, taken from the French tricolour, as granted by Napoleon. It was governed by a clique of consuls, like the ancient Roman Republic. French forces had invaded the Papal States partly in revenge for the murder of French general Mathurin-Léonard Duphot in 1797.