Lot 378: Carinus. A.D. 283-285. Æ medallion. Rome. Happy New Year from Carinus.

Carinus. A.D. 283-285. Æ medallion (24 mm, 7.16 g, 5 h). Rome. IMP CARINVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Carinus right, breastplate decorated with aegis / [TEMPO]R[VM] sbove, [FEL]ICITAS , Genius Saeculi standing right, holding scepter and large zodiac through which the Four Seasons proceed, first Spring holding a basket, second Summer holding a sickle, third Autumn holding a bunch of grapes, and finally Winter, hooded and carrying a reed over her shoulder; on right, a putto with cornucopiae on shoulder walking left toward Genius Saeculi and the Seasons. Unpublished in the standard references. Unique. Porous brown surfaces. Fine. 

For a medallion of Commodus with this exact reverse, see Gemini I (11 January 2005), 385. Presumably its design was derived from a statuary group which must still have been in existence during the reign of Carinus. The description of the reverse we provide here as well as the observation below is taken nearly verbatim from the Gemini lot description, so credit goes to to Curtis Clay.

"Coins were a favorite Roman New Year''s gift, and the imperial titles on Roman medallions prove that most of them were indeed struck at the beginning of the year, doubtless for distribution as New Year''s gifts. This attractive reverse type seems to promise that the passage of the seasons will bring prosperity, a traditional New Year''s wish."

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 378
• Listing #: 231299
• Closed: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:05:40 PM CT
• Estimate: $750