Æ23 - Septimius Severus ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ Β ΝΕΟΚΟΡΩΝ

Ephesus held the title of *neokoros* — keeper of the imperial cult temple — and competed fiercely with Smyrna and Pergamon for precedence among Asian cities. The Β ΝΕΟΚΟΡΩΝ designation indicates a second grant of that honor, which Ephesus secured under Domitian and confirmed under subsequent emperors. Severus was generous with neokorate grants as a tool of provincial loyalty during the civil wars of 193, when cities that backed him early needed rewarding and those that backed Niger needed managing.