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Message:: [QUOTE="kevin McGonigal, post: 3739145, member: 72790"]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.[/QUOTE]