Decapolis means Ten Cities. These ten cities were Hellenistic cities, situated east and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. This rare Roman provincial coin is from one of those cities - Gadara. It was struck in 28-29 AD, at the time of Jesus ministry. It is 18 mm in diameter and shows the image of the then Emperor Tiberius and Tyche the Greek goddess of fortune and prosperity.
In Mark 5v1-20, We read that Jesus was at Gadara. While he was there he met a naked, ,violent man who was possessed by many demons. Jesus cast them out of the man and, at the demons request, permitted them to enter a herd of pigs that then ran into the sea of Galilee and drowned. We are told that the man, now clothed and in his right mind, departed telling everyone in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. The people where astonished (Mark 5v20)
This coin was there in the possession of someone in Gadara. Did they hear about how this man was delivered? Millions can testify today how the Lord Jesus Christ has delivered them from drugs, alcohol and lives of sin. John Newton was a captain and investor in the slave trade in the 18th century but Jesus saved and delivered him. This led him to write this hymn known world wide...
"Amazing grace ! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me ! I once was lost ,but now I'm found; Was blind but now I see "