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Rome - The Republic

Moneyer: P. Licinius Nerva
Held Office: 113 or 112 BC
Denomination: AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
Obverse: Helmeted bust of Roma, left, holding spear and shield, crescent above, XVI in monogram before, "ROMA" behind.
Reverse: Voting scene showing two citizens casting their ballots in the Comitium, one being handed his voting tablet by an attendant, screen in background surmounted by marker with initial "P" representing the voting tribe. "P•NERVA" (NE in monogram) across upper part of screen.
Reference: RCVM 169, RSC Licinia 7, RRC 292/1
Weight: 3.8 gms
Diameter: 16.7 mm

The Comitium

One of the most celebrated types of the Republican coinage, this depicts the actual voting process in the political assembly of the Roman People of the Comitium, where citizens voted on business presented to them by the magistrates. The area occupied by the Comitium was consecrated ground, like a temple, and was located in front of the senate House in the Forum.
It was C. Licinius Crassus, the tribune, who in 145 BC first brought together the tribes into separate enclosures to vote in the comitia, and in 139 BC the ballot was introduced for the election of magistrates.

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