This article takes a fresh look at epigraphic and numismatic material relating to 3rd century troop transfers through Asia Minor for military campaigns on the eastern frontier and frequently adduced as evidence for positive or negative effects of such transfers on cities and rural communities in Asia Minor. The author comes to the conclusion that whereas the inscriptions discussed do not support the view that troop movements through Asia Minor had mainly negative effects on local economies, increases in coin production by eastern cities in preparation for the arrival of military units cannot universally be taken as being indicative of an army-induced economic upturn, but have to be viewed in diachronic perspective taking devaluation into account.