RS116351. Silver denarius, Woytek 217b, BMCRE III 206, BnF IV 392, RSC II 394, RIC II 184, SRCV II 3160, Strack I 109, Hunter II 58 var. (aegis), Choice gVF, full legends, flow lines, small edge cracks/splits, 3.063g, 19.6mm, 180^o, Rome mint, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P (Latin: Supreme commander, Trajan, emperor, victor over the Germans, victor over the Dacians, high priest, holder of tribunitian power, consul 5 times, father of the nation), laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI (Latin: Senatus Populusque Romanus Optimo Principi - [From] the Senate and People of Rome, [dedicated to] the best of Princes), Genius standing slightly left, head left, nude but for chlamys around waist and over left arm, pouring libations from patera in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, altar at feet on left

 

In Roman religion, every man has a genius, a presiding spirit. In De Die Natali, Censorinus says, from the moment we are born, we live under the guard and tutelage of Genius. Cities, organizations, and peoples also had a genius. On coins, we find inscriptions to the Genius of the Army, of the Senate, of the People, of the Emperor, etc.