Pirates have always enjoyed a nasty reputation, and not without reason, but did you know that they also operated as democracies as far back as the 1600s? The captain and the quartermaster were elected to their posts. Pirates also saved some of their spoils to pay out as compensation to injured or disabled crewmembers. Lists show standardized payments of 600 pieces of eight ($156,000 in modern currency) for the loss of a leg, and 100 pieces ($26,800) for loss of an eye. These terms were agreed upon and written down by the pirates.