Counting table from the Basle town hall

Description

Three tables of Roman figures have been inlaid on the surface of the table; they have the following significance: M = 1000, C = I00, X = 10; lib = libra = pounds, s = solidus = shillings, d = denarius = pennies. Tokens rather than real money were used for counting, and their position on the table gave them the value marked on the left hand side. There is a raised rim round the table top to prevent the counters falling over the edge. The supports and cross rail are decorated with Gothic foliage. The table was probably used as a counting table by what was known as the 'Dreieramt', an office created in 1453 consisting of three members of the inner council. It was responsible for overseeing all transactions relating to income and expenditure and had a key role in the administration. The counting table would have gone out of use about 1600, when Basle went over from Roman numerals to Arabic figures. Although counting tables of this kind were once in widespread use in government offices and among merchants and bankers, only some half dozen have survived in Europe.