Diospolis-Lydda in Samaria. Septimius Severus. Æ (16.88 g), AD 193-211. […] CEOVEP[…], laureate and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus right, aegis(?) on breastplate. Reverse: […]ECO ΔIOCΠ[…], Zeus seated left, holding eagle(?) and scepter. Unpublished and seemingly unique. Extremely Rare. Dark green patina with earthen highlights. About Very Fine. Estimate Value $800 - 900
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.
After the destruction of the Second Temple, Diospolis-Lydda (Lod) saw an upswing in Jewish settlement and had become a predominately Jewish city by the 2nd century. When Septimius Severus visited in about A.D. 200, he refounded the city as ΛOYKIA CEΠTIMIA CEOYHPA ΔIOCΠOΛIC ("the city of Zeus named after Lucius Septimius Severus"). Before the appearance of this coin, only coins of Severus' wife, Julia Domna, as well as Caracalla, Geta and Elagabalus were known, but we should not be surprised that coins of the emperor who refounded the city were struck.