The the winged figure extinguishing an inverted torch seen on the reverse of some Roman provincial coins is often identified as Eros (Cupid) or sometimes as a generic winged Genius. The inverted torch represents a life extinguished, indicating the figure is Thanatos (death). By the Severan Era, there was increased hope for an afterlife in pleasant Elysium rather than in dismal Hades. Thanatos was associated more with a gentle passing than a woeful demise. Thanatos as a winged boy, very much akin to Cupid, with crossed legs and an inverted torch, became the most common symbol for death, depicted on many Roman sarcophagi.

The image above is taken from an early 4th century Roman sarcophagus.

This second image is from the sarcophagus of a couple found near Tripolis dated to the 2nd or 3rd century.  It is believed they died together in a plague. Is it possible the Thanatos coin types were struck shortly after a plague, in memory of those lost?

Thanatos is a daimon, a genius, but not just any genius. He looks like cupid or eros, but he is not. Thanatos is not love, he is death, specifically non-violent death.

People would like to deny death but Thanatos does not care.