Roman Republic Voting (2nd Century BC) and Coins

The concept of voting is always related to a modern thought process, but history conveys a different tale. The Roman Republic provides many examples of many implementations in their governing process that can be related to modernization. This Empire was governed by the council of People called ''Senate''. The Senate consists of members from the influential and rich noble class.

                                      

Roman Denarius, 113-112 BC, depicting three citizens voting on a comitium, one voter receives the ballot from attendant below, another voter places ballot in a cista.

The Roman administration contained two Assemblies during the 2nd Century BC. The two Assemblies were called Assembly of the Centuries (soldiers), who elected magistrates who had imperium powers (consuls and praetors) and Assembly of the Tribes (nonmilitary civilian assembly), who elected magistrates, who did not exercise imperium. It did most of the legislating and sat as a court for serious public offences. The members consisted of adult male Roman citizens. They voted for a candidate and for the proposed legislation.

                     

Roman, AR Denarius, 113-112 BC, weight 3.8 gm, Obverse: Helmeted bust of Roma left, spear over shoulder, shield decorated with rider on horse, Reverse: Three citizens voting on a comitium.

 

This coin depicts the voting scene issued by the moneyer P. Licinius Nerva in 113-112 BC. The reverse depicts the voting scene where an attendant is handing over a small wooden tablet covered with wax on which the voter inscribed his vote eg: V for Uti Rogad: As you Propose (to support) A for Antiquo: I vote against (to oppose) or a candidate's name in an election. Later on, the voter drops the tablet into a tall ''Cista''. This process was time consuming, so voting was conducted in a large space of Campus Martius.

This concept of voting depicted on the coin explains the influence of this system on commoners at large. Women didn't hold any kind of political influence over the Roman administration.

                       

Ancient Greece, L. Cassius Longinus, 63 BC, AR Denarius, Rome, weight 4.0 gm, Obverse: Veiled head of Vesta facing left, calix to right, Reverse: LONGIN III V, voter standing left, dropping tablet inscribed V into cista (Crawford 413/1 Sydenham 935)  

                        

L.Cassius Longinus AR Denarius, Rome 63 BC, weight 3.9 gm Obverse: Head of Vesta to left, wearing veil and diadem, kylix behind, control mark in front, Reverse: Voter standing to left dropping tablet into Cista on right

The entire concept of voting we follow today is influenced and practiced since the bygone era.   

Penny Black

 

The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 01 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 06 May 1840. The stamp featured a profile of Queen Victoria.

                       

           One Penny Black, 1841
 

68,808,000 number of stamps were printed and about 1,300,000 exist today. This 2% survival rate is probably higher than expected because the use of envelopes was unusual in 1840s. The Penny Black lasted less than a year. A red cancellation was difficult to see on the black design, and the red ink was easy to remove, both made it possible to re-use cancelled stamps.

                           

The Jacob Perkin's press which printed the Penny Black and the 2c Blue, in the British Library Philatelic Collections.

In February 1841, the treasury switched to Penny Red.

                       

   Large mint block of the Penny Black.

The Penny Black is renowned undoubtedly as the most famous stamp and one which every collector aspires to own.