The crown bears a hollow brass knob (an anther) rising from a square base. The top is fluted and engraved to represent a poppy seed case. As the top has been pierced, there was probably also a plume.
The brow, rear of the occiput and cheek plates have been lavishly decorated with embossed bronze sheeting resembling curled hair.
In addition, features resembling snakes have been soldered to the rear and front of the skull.
The convex and downward sloping neck guard is edged with punched brass strip. In the centre of the neck guard there is an ornate carrying handle that is secured via two split pins that pass through the guard. Where the neck guard joins to the helmet crown there is an embossed brass strip, decorated with raised detail in a style reminiscent of some Samian-ware pottery (using a series of vertical gadroons, arranged in a frieze). On the right hand proper side of the neck guard there is an applied brass design, partially damaged, of a crescent moon. It is probable that originally there would have been a matching one on the left proper side.
Photos, (c) Jens Horstkotte.
References:
Robinson, H.R. (1975), "The Armour of Imperial Rome", (Arms & Armour Press), p.100, No.273-76
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