Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Severus Alexander, post: 4988569, member: 84744&quot;]I have one of those in less enviable condition:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1198436[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Here are my notes on it: </p><p>The coin type refers to the occasion in 113 BC when a vote was taken to set up a commission to investigate three Vestal Virgins presided over by an ancestor of the moneyer, L. Cassius Longinus Ravilla. He eventually condemed and put to death two of the women for unchastity, the punishment for which was to be entombed alive, allowing time for the goddess to set her free if innocent.&nbsp; It seems she only helped Vestal Houdinis!</p><p><br /></p><p>The type also refers to the method of secret ballot introduced by&nbsp; Ravilla earlier, in 132 BCE when he was Tribune of the plebs, by means of the Lex Cassia Tabellaria.&nbsp; This reverse shows a vote being cast in the legislative assembly. The V stands for Vti Rogas, or “as you ask”, signifying a positive vote; the opposite vote was initialed with an A for Antiquo, meaning “I reject any change.” These letters were scratched into a wax layer on a wooden tablet and deposited into the cista, or wicker basket, then counted.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in