Corona triumphalis

The fourth wreath is clearly larger than the other three and is more elaborately decorated. It represents the actual solid gold crown of leaves, the corona triumphalis, which a triumphant general would receive for his victories and which was held above his head by a slave during his triumphal procession. At the same time, however, this slave would also utter the words “memento mori” (“remember that you are mortal”), reminding the victorious general that the triumph would not last and that he should not let his victory get to his head.

Before Pompey’s success, triumphant generals were traditionally not allowed to wear the golden crown (and the purple toga and tunic that came with it) on occasions other than the procession. However, in 63 BC Pompey was given the (once again) almost unprecedented right to wear (parts) of this outfit on certain public occasions such as attending the circus games. In a sense, what had started as temporary honor thus became permanent. Mary Beard, The Roman Triumph (Cambridge MA 2007) 30-31, 229. In the same fashion, portraying Pompey's triumphs on coins also created a lasting memento of his triumphs.