Though he was but a young man in the Marsic war,1 he gave many
proofs of courage and understanding. It was, however, more owing
to his constancy and mildness that Sulla attached him to himself
and employed him from first to last on business of the highest
importance. Such, for instance, was the management of the mint.
Most of the money used in Peloponnesus during the Mithridatic
war was coined by him, and was called Lucullean after him. It
remained current for a long time, since the wants of the
soldiery during the war gave it rapid circulation. Afterwards,
at Athens, Sulla found himself master on land, but cut off from
supplies by sea, owing to the superior naval force of the enemy.
He therefore despatched Lucullus to Egypt and Libya,2 with
orders to fetch ships from there. Winter was then at its worst,
but he sailed forth with three Greek brigantines and as many
small Rhodian galleys, exposing himself not only to the high
sea, but to numerous hostile ships which were cruising about
everywhere in full master