★ The personification of Winter ★

Anonymous issues, time of Hadrian to Antoninus Pius, 117-161. Quadrans (Copper, 18 mm, 2.99 g, 12 h). Veiled head of the personification of Winter as a young boy to right, wearing wreath of reeds. Rev. S•C within olive wreath. Cohen VIII -. RIC II -. Van Heesch 1 and pl. XXV, 3. An exceptionally attractive piece with a lovely green patina. Minor breaks in patina on the edge and the reverse a bit weak, otherwise, good very fine.

The young child portrayed on the obverse of this series of quadrantes was long regarded as Annius Verus, the second son of Marcus Aurelius. However, modern research has shown that these coins show personifications of the four seasons - in the case of this coin, it is the personification of Winter.