DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51762#0137
HISTORICAL ROMAN COINS
Pompeius, having in 82 b.c. as propraetor recovered
Sicily, proceeded in the next year to Africa, in order
to deal with Domitius Ahenobarbus and Hiarbas, the
usurper of the Numidian throne. His victory was
easy. The events which followed are well known:
the attempt of the Senate to disband his army, and to
baulk him of his triumph, which, as a matter of fact,
being an extraordinary magistrate, he could not con-
stitutionally claim ; his protest, and Sulla’s concession.
When Pompeius returned to Rome, Sulla greeted him
as “ Magnus.” That title had already been given
him by his troops in Africa,1 and Sulla was wise
enough to defer to their opinion. So Pompeius, who
was only 24 years old, and not yet even a senator,
triumphed: eques Romanus, id quod antea nemo,
curru triumphal! revectus.2
This aureus undoubtedly refers to a triumph, which
the head of Africa on the obverse identifies, with a
strong degree of probability, as the triumph after the
African victories.3 But where and when was the coin
struck? Not in Rome, for gold coins like this were
issued by military commanders, in virtue of their
1 See Plutarch, Pomp. 13.
2 Plin. N.H. vii. 96 ; Liv. JEp. Ixxxix. Cp. Licinian. Gran. p. 39 :
et Pompeius annos natus xxv. eques Romanus, quod nemo antea, pro-
praetore ex Africa triumphavit iiii. idus Martias.
8 So Mommsen-Blacas, ii., p. 456, note. But it is straining a point to
argue that the head of Africa also alludes to Pompeius’ grand elephant
hunt or to his idea of triumphing in a car drawn by elephants.
95
Pompeius, having in 82 b.c. as propraetor recovered
Sicily, proceeded in the next year to Africa, in order
to deal with Domitius Ahenobarbus and Hiarbas, the
usurper of the Numidian throne. His victory was
easy. The events which followed are well known:
the attempt of the Senate to disband his army, and to
baulk him of his triumph, which, as a matter of fact,
being an extraordinary magistrate, he could not con-
stitutionally claim ; his protest, and Sulla’s concession.
When Pompeius returned to Rome, Sulla greeted him
as “ Magnus.” That title had already been given
him by his troops in Africa,1 and Sulla was wise
enough to defer to their opinion. So Pompeius, who
was only 24 years old, and not yet even a senator,
triumphed: eques Romanus, id quod antea nemo,
curru triumphal! revectus.2
This aureus undoubtedly refers to a triumph, which
the head of Africa on the obverse identifies, with a
strong degree of probability, as the triumph after the
African victories.3 But where and when was the coin
struck? Not in Rome, for gold coins like this were
issued by military commanders, in virtue of their
1 See Plutarch, Pomp. 13.
2 Plin. N.H. vii. 96 ; Liv. JEp. Ixxxix. Cp. Licinian. Gran. p. 39 :
et Pompeius annos natus xxv. eques Romanus, quod nemo antea, pro-
praetore ex Africa triumphavit iiii. idus Martias.
8 So Mommsen-Blacas, ii., p. 456, note. But it is straining a point to
argue that the head of Africa also alludes to Pompeius’ grand elephant
hunt or to his idea of triumphing in a car drawn by elephants.
95