Just bought this one from Warren. Thanks to him for a very smooth transaction. This coin is a Limes denarius, that is a denarius not in silver but in base metal instead. These may have been used for the full value of a denarius when coinage in silver was scarce. There is also a theory that these were struck from worn dies once they were no longer suitable for the silver coins. I picked this one up because I thought it would make an interesting addition to my collection of Domitian denarii. Besides, it has the pegasus on the reverse. I could not turn that down. Feel free to post your coins of Domitian or your Limes denarii.
The Pegasus alone is always reason enough to buy the coin . That it is a limes adds to the interest .
Love the pegasus. Love the Domitian. I don't know much (anything) about Limes Denari so I can't comment on that. But overall, solid coin
Interesting piece, thanks for sharing! I haven't ever specifically sought them out but somehow managed to accumulate a handful of these fiat denarii. I have a Trajan or two but the rest are later, so your Domitian is the earliest that I recall seeing. Do you know when the first issue of limes denarii was released, or when they became more widely produced and used?
Great capture, @Orfew ... Fun to complement the collection. I got my Limes for the same reason: cool to have in the collection! Mine is of Hadrian. RI Hadrian, AD 117-138 Æ Limes Denarius 18mm 3.5mm after AD 125 Genius stndg sacrificing altar cornucopia RIC II 173
These are interesting coins and well worth studying so I'd say that is a nice addition to your Domitian hoard. I have only one, which I much enjoyed learning about - another postulation was that these were used for troop payment at the front lines to be redeemed for good coin upon their return (if they returned). JULIA MAESA, grandmother of Elagabalus, d. 223 AD. Æ Denarius. Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG - Draped bust right. Rev: IV_NO - Juno standing with patera and sceptre. 2.92g, 16mm. Toned aXF. AE version of RIC IV, Part II, 254 (Elagabalus)
Domitian I've had, of course, but limes denarii, no. As a novice to ancient coins, the first few times I read that term, my mind went the wrong way with it. How many of the rest of you made the same association when you first saw the name? Truth be told, I still can't unsee this image whenever I read the term.
I have acquired a few over the years, all have come in group lots of small Ae Provincials. Here are 2 of the better examples - Septimius Severus - Marti Pacifero - RIC iv 113 Severus Alexander - Aequitas - RIC IV 127
As a younger collector of ancients, many years ago, I never heard the term "limes (pronounced lee mes, two syllables) denarius before. I have tried to rectify that gap in my education and recently have read some material on them. I think they may have been issued to troops as "chits" to be redeemed in good metal coinage later after the troops had been transferred to more settled regions of the Empire than the limes, border regions. This way there was less likelihood of specie falling into the hands of Rome's enemies. Some collectors may recall the paper currency issued to troops, or civilians in dangerous zones during WW II. Occupation currency, if acquired by the enemy, would have been useless to them. During the early stages of that war, when things looked somewhat bleak, the US treasury issued the Hawaii stamped notes for circulation there, that could have been demonetized if, well, things had not gone well. The same for the North African currency issued to GI's in 1942. So I think those limes denarii, either of totally debased metal or plated coins were a regular feature in some border regions of the empire but would not have been used or seen in circulation much beyond the border regions. What is needed to bolster this opinion are some hoards found in situ in several dangerous border areas over a long period of time.
Interesting piece. I cannot comment on other time periods that produced 'limes' denarii, but IMHO, during the Flavian era they are contemporary forgeries. Perhaps fourrée cores without the plating.
Limes denarii are fun to collect, and IMO, very underpriced especially for the ones associated to wars. I have two, both recent bottom of the barrel grabs from Savoca lots Marcus Aurelius Limes denarius of RIC 170, minted 166-67, at the start of the Marcomannic Wars Other I apparently don't have an image of yet, but is a similar AE denarius of Faustina II that I bought in a 1 euro per coin lot from Savoca. I thought that together they made a nice "Mother and Father of the Camp" set.
My general sense derived from repeated observations of detectorist-sellers hawking their finds on eBay is that most limes denarii are found in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Are appreciable numbers of limes denarii known from other regions, like northern England or the Middle East?
