Aurum Coronarium
When a general in a Roman province had obtained a victory, it was the custom for the cities
in his own provinces, and for those from the neighbouring states, to send golden crowns to
him, which were carried before him in his triumph at Rome. In the time of Cicero it appears to
have been usual for the cities of the provinces, instead of sending crowns on occasion of a
victory, to pay money, which was called
aurum coronarium. This offering,
which was at first voluntary, came to be regarded as a regular tribute, and seems to have been
sometimes exacted by the governors of the provinces even when no victory had been gained. By a
law of Iulius Caesar, it was provided that the aurum coronarium should not be given unless a
triumph was decreed; but under the emperors it was exacted on many other occasions, as, for
instance, on the adoption of Antoninus Pius. It continued to be collected, apparently as a
part of the revenue, in the time of Valentinian I. and Theodosius.
