From the Roman times

This is the symbol of Nîmes, dating from the time the city was called Nemausus during the Roman times. Crocodile bronze coins were minted by the Romans showing a crocodile chained to a palm tree symbolizing the victory of the Romans over Egypt. Roman soldiers who had served Julius Caesar in his Nile campaigns, were given plots of land to cultivate in Nemausus.
Today the symbol is found on discs among the paving stones of squares and markers protecting pedestrian streets.