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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Victor_Clark, post: 24889700, member: 10613&quot;]Some of my favorite ancient helmets come from Constantine&#039;s VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP series from Siscia. These are called ridge helmets and are made of either 2 or 4 plates held in place with a ridge of various height.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>here are some 4 plate examples</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1598854[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4">Constantine I</font></p><p><font size="4">A.D. 318-19</font></p><p><font size="4">18mm 3.0g</font></p><p><font size="4">IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder.</font></p><p><font size="4">VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield [wreath] inscribed VOT PR on altar.</font></p><p><font size="4">in ex. BSIS</font></p><p><font size="4">RIC VII Siscia 55</font></p><p><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4">Object in left hand looks like a parazonium...also note how the spear breaks the obverse legend</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1598855[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4">Constantine I</font></p><p><font size="4">A.D. 319</font></p><p><font size="4">19mm 3.2g</font></p><p><font size="4">IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, draped, spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm</font></p><p><font size="4">VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield [wreath] inscribed VOT PR on altar.</font></p><p><font size="4">in ex. ESIS•</font></p><p><font size="4">RIC VII Siscia 61 variation</font></p><p><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4">Draped bust versus cuirassed</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>here are some two plate examples...note these are also decorated with laurel.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1598856[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4">Constantine I</font></p><p><font size="4">A.D. 319</font></p><p><font size="4">Ӕ nummus 21mm 3.2gm</font></p><p><font size="4">IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right.</font></p><p><font size="4">VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath [shield] inscribed VOT PR; Victory on left holding a stylus.</font></p><p><font size="4">in ex. ΓSIS•</font></p><p><font size="4">RIC VII Siscia 59</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>this uncleaned example is special because of the wavy line with dots decoration...I have never seen another example.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1598857[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4">Constantine I</font></p><p><font size="4">A.D. 318-19</font></p><p><font size="4">18mm 3.3gm</font></p><p><font size="4">IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right.</font></p><p><font size="4">VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath [shield] inscribed VOT PR.</font></p><p><font size="4">in ex. ESIS</font></p><p><font size="4">RIC VII Siscia 53</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The VLPP helmet of Constantine was also used later by Germanic kings.The Ostrogothic king Theodahad (534-536 A.D.) issued coins with the same helmet as the VLPP type. (see below--not my coin) </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1598858[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>There are no cheek flaps, but the type is still recognizable, especially the stars in the right and left fields. The VLPP ridge helmet was a precursor to the most common type helmet in Europe in the sixth and seventh century-- called a spangenhelm. As late as the seventh century, a helmet was used in place of a crown in the coronation of Egbert, a King of Kent who ruled from 664 to 673.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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