HISTORICAL ROMAN COINS
imperium, and only outside the city. Probably in
Spain, whither Pompeius proceeded in 77 b.c. as pro-
consul. This accords with the inscription on the
coin. Mommsen, it is true, associating the inscrip-
tion directly with the African triumph, has some
difficulty in explaining the title PROCOS. He notes
that (according to Licinianus) Pompeius, on his return
from Africa, triumphed with the title pro praetore ;
but he explains that between this title and that of
pro consule there is a distinction only of rank, not of
authority. Pompeius, having been despatched to
Sicily and Africa with an extraordinary imperium,
without holding or having held any magistracy,
might well have assumed the title pro consule in
Africa, and triumphed as pro praetore in Rome !
“ Tout le reste s’explique facilement.” The extreme
subtlety of such an explanation becomes entirely
unnecessary if we suppose that the coin was issued
when Pompeius was actually proconsul, but before
the glory of his African triumph had been dimmed
by greater exploits. That was the case when he was
fighting Sertorius in Spain from 76 to 72 b.c. The
circumstances of the campaign might very naturally
demand the issue of a military coinage in gold such
as we have before us.
Other dates which have been suggested for the coin
are 71 b.c. (the Spanish triumph) and 61 b.c. (the
Asian triumph). In considering these alternatives
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