Weapons

ROMAN Imperial Gallic Helmets

ROMAN IMPERIAL

Used from: Ca. 25 BC-AD 150

Used by: Legionary infantry, officers up to the rank of centurion.

Imperial Gallic Helmets

H. Russell Robinson named this category of helmet thusly because of its formal connection between earlier Gallic helmets (such as those found at Agen and Port bei Nidau) and the earliest Roman examples of this helmet. The first examples of this type verifiably employed by the Roman legions date from the period of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor, hence the first element of the name “Imperial-Gallic.”  The Gallic types of helm had several commonly held distinguishing features, such as a brow guard, embossed “eyebrows” above the brow, a fairly broad neck guard, prominent cheek guards, and multiple embossed ridges at the occiput of the helmet’s cranium (base of the bowl).  Earlier models of the Imperial Gallic type had shorter, flatter neck guards, which gave way to broader, more steeply sloped ones toward the middle of the first century AD and into the early second century.  The production of the Imperial-Gallic helmet appears to have been confined to the first and early second centuries, with the latest example that is clearly identifiable within this category being the K model.  Most of the Imperial-Gallic types were fashioned out of iron, but a few were made of copper alloys (brass or bronze), such as the Gallic I Mainz type and Gallic I Aquincum type (delightfully misspelled by Deepeeka as “Aquinson”).  The Imperial Gallic helmet is one of the classically recognizable Roman lemets that people have come to associate with the Roman legions. 

Deepeeka offers several excellent quality reproductions of the Imperial Gallic types of helmet. 

AH6306N - Deepeeka Imperial Gallic A       

Used from: Late 1^st century BC - early 1^st century AD

Price: $198

Authenticity Rating: 10

Deepeeka’s Gallic A (AH6306) is an excellent facsimile of one of the earliest iron helmets to be used by the Augustan legions in the late 1^st century BC, the original being found at Nijmegen. The type seems to have been fairly widespread, as at least two other nearly identical examples are also known to exist, including one from the famous Guttmann Collection (seen at left). Like all of the helmets on this page, the Gallic A has recently been redesigned to uprate its accuracy, to the point where a professional custom armorer would be hard-pressed to improve upon it. We rate its authenticity a 10.

AH6307N - Deepeeka Imperial Gallic C

Used From: First quarter of the 1^st century AD

Price: $210

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic C (AH6307) is also an example of an early Imperial iron helmet, the original having been found near the Kupa River, and dates to the first quarter of the 1^st century AD. We rate it, in terms of its authenticity, as a 10, as it has been newly redesigned with assistance from the discussion board, Roman Army Talk. 

AH6315N – Deepeeka Imperial Gallic F

Used From: Second quarter of the 1^st century AD

Price: $198

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic F is also an example of an early Imperial iron helmet.  This type is well attested, with three originals having been found in various locales, including Yugoslavia and Besançon.  It is possible that a fourth example exists in the Berzobis helmet, a mid-first century helmet that conforms to this design and was retrofitted with cross-bracing sometime during the Dacian Wars.  As Deepeeka’s replica has been newly redesigned with assistance from the discussion board, Roman Army Talk, we rate it, in terms of its authenticity, as a 10.

AH6052N - Deepeeka Imperial Gallic G  

Used from: Ca. AD 45-105

Price: $195

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic G (AH6052N), one of the most widely reproduced and well-loved helmets has been recently revised by Deepeeka, under advisement by the expert scholars and historians contributing to the discussion board, Roman Army Talk.  The original dates from the 3^rd quarter of the first century AD, and was found near the Rhine at Mainz.  This reproduction is one of the most highly researched and well-crafted items commercially available - and for a very affordable price.  Our authenticity rating of this helmet is a full 10, and we commend Deepeeka for its efforts in producing a commercially available replica with such a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

AH6053 - Deepeeka Imperial Gallic H

Used from: Ca. AD 60-120

Price: $195

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic H (AH6053) is another excellent facsimile of the Augsburg original and the numerous fragments found belonging to this type, all demonstrably dated to the third or fourth quarter of the 1^st century AD.  It differs from the Gallic G in having eyebrows composed of three flutes, instead of two, and the neck guard slopes downward at a greater angle. This is the preferred helmet for many reenactors, as it is both extremely functional, comfortable, and aesthetically attractive. As with the other helmets on this page, Deepeeka recently completed a design revision of this type which makes it extremely accurate. As few as two or three years ago, a reenactor wanting a replica of this quality and accuracy would have had to pay three or four times the present price for this model.

AH6059B - Deepeeka Imperial Gallic I      

Used from: End of the 1^st century AD

Price: $285

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic I (AH6059B), sometimes spoken of as the Mainz type, was an example of helmets still being fashioned of a copper alloy (brass) toward the end of the 1^st century AD.  Again, helmets of this type seem to have been in fairly widespread use, as other examples quite similar to the Mainz example have been found, including the Guttmann Collection specimen seen at right. Some have theorized that brass Imperial Gallic helmets may have belonged to officers, since they would have a distinctly different gleam on the battlefield, but this is little more than speculation. In fact, a number of brass helmets appear to have been tinned, which would have made them appear little different than iron examples.  Deepeeka’s reproduction is an excellent likeness of the original which bore many of the same characteristics as other late Gallic models, but in a different material than iron.  We give it a rating on our authenticity scale of 10. 

AH6060B - Deepeeka “Aquincum helmet” 

Used from: End of the 1^st century AD

Price: $265

Authenticity Rating: 10

The Imperial Gallic I - Aquincum Type - has been reproduced by Deepeeka under the name “Aquinson” helmet (AH6060B).  The original, having been found at Aquincum, has been classified under the same category as the other artifact found at Mainz, but bears a few slight variations.  Also made of brass, and dating from the third or fourth quarter of the 1^st century AD, this helmet has different crest mount, possibly intended to hold a "falling plume" of horsehair rather than a traditional crest box. Although thr Aquincum type was already one of Deepeeka's more accurate helmets, it has been further improved as part of the recent "accurizing" campaign. We would rate this reproduction as a 10 on our scale.