Christies Late Roman helmet: 1 or 2?

[Urselius]

The state of preservation of an old iron object is highly variable, and is directly determined by the chemical conditions of its environment.

The Anglo-Saxon Coppergate Helmet is a case in point - see here for its beautiful state of preservation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anglo...Helmet.jpg

This was buried in soggy Northern England and most of the conservation and repair it was subjected to was as a result of the damage made by the mechanical digger when it was unearthed. Otherwise the helmet was in a remarkably undistorted and uncorroded condition.

We have no information on the conditions in which the two Roman helmets were apparently preserved, so their lack of distortion and relatively low level of corrosion says very little about their genuineness - as similar levels of preservation are demonstrably possible.

Also worth noting on the Coppergate Helmet are the exact and well-finished edges of the iron elements of the skull - armourers did have files, even then.

Also see the Pioneer helmet:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e...Helmet.jpg

Both of these Anglo-Saxon helmets I would class as being derived from the Ridge Helmet, somewhat modified over time admittedly, and both have hinged cheekpieces.