33. Aul. Gell. Noctes Atticae, xvi. 13. The emperor Hadrian
expressed his surprise, that the cities of Utica, Gades, and
Itatica, which already enioyed the rights of 'Municipia',
should solicit the title of colonies. Their example,
however, became fashionable, and the empire was filled with
honorary colonies. Spanheim, de Usu Numismatum, Dissertat.
xiii.