This helmet carries a much larger neck guard than types G, H and I, which slopes steeply down at the shoulders at an angle of very nearly 45 degrees.
There were ornamental bronze decorations in the usual places, except on the cheek pieces, where only two were used; one at the centre of the plate and the other under the rivet head holding the chin tie-ring.
Formerly, there was a reeded brow band and another bronze strip had been applied to the forward edge of the reinforcing peak.
The ‘eyebrows’ were very broad and flat with a medial step and were placed high up on the front of the helmet bowl.
No crest holder survives but the positions of the crest holder retaining hooks can be made out still. There are also two holes in the neck guard for the split pins that retained the carrying handle, since lost.
This helmet formed part of the Lord Howard de Walden's (1880-1946) collection of ancient arms and armour, bequethed to the National Museum of Wales. Subsequently, many items in this collection were found to be fakes although this helmet seems to be one of the genuine ones.
Weight: 1.59 Kg. (Note, this weight includes the reproduction right cheek guard).
Photos (c) Mike Thomas by permission of the National Museum of Wales. (Permission is granted for this sole purpose) and Cezary Wyszynski.
References:
Robinson, H.R. (1975), "The Armour of Imperial Rome", (Arms & Armour Press), p.60, Nos.144-7
Butler, C. & David M. (2006), "Things Fall apart... Museum Conservation in Practice", (Cardiff, NMW), pp.98-107
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