Signifer

The pole could be topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or a manus (open human hand) image denoting the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers.

A soldier could also gain the position of discentes signiferorum, or standard bearer in training.

Although often depicted as such and adopted in modern re-enactments, signifers do not seem to have covered their helmets with wolf furs.

[1] In addition to carrying the signum, the signifer also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' treasurer.

In the Roman Republic, the signifer probably applied to all standard bearers, but in the Roman Empire, the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi, which also included aquilifers (responsible for the legion's aquila), imaginifers (who carried an image of the emperor), vexillarii (who carried the Vexillum, a banner representing the legion), and draconarii (who carried the standard of a cavalry unit).