[fidelis]

[irishjuggler]

Whoa. That’s an amazing helmet.

[MarlonRando]

That’s a nice helmet/ work of art

[ansel12]

That is the type of rarity that stirs my interest.

[kiryandil]

ping

[PGR88]

“Because it was once in Serbia 1900 years ago, means its ours forever” seems to be the basis of the statist’s argument.

[larrytown]

First questions first.

Is it even authentic? If it’s a fake, then all those other issues are moot.

[V_TWIN]

Good grief, can no one in Europe hold in to their valuable artifacts anymore?!....sheesh.

[Big Red Badger]

It’s Value Rises ...
.
Going Once,
Going Twice!

[central_va]

A little Brasso would go a long way.

[Dan in Wichita]

Fascinating. If authentic, must be worth a fortune because of its extraordinary condition.

[plain talk]

"It belongs in a museum!"

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Will the UK and France disgorge their looted foreign antiquities to restore the cultural DNA of the countries they were stolen from?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

—> Treasure Trove Auctions states that the helmet was a “metal detector ground find near Sirmium,

Detectorists for the win!

[Sirius Lee]

Imagine how much they’d pay for the helmet of Biggus Dickus?

[jimtorr]

Very well preserved, perhaps uniquely so.

[tumblindice]

Pontius Pilate: So... You dawe to waid us?
Brian: To what, sir?
Pontius Pilate: Stwike him, Centuwion, vewy woughly!

[painter]

I also hope that Serbian authorities will provide positive news soon regarding the helmet’s status, taking the necessary steps to ensure it returns to its rightful home.

Wouldn't the be Italy?

[mass55th]

Glad it was discovered before it was sold off into oblivion. Did someone working at the museum manage the theft themselves or got someone else to accomplish it, along with its export?

From the article: "The auction house describes it as 'museum-quality' and claims the object was legally exported after “rigorous government approval.”

Uh no. Exporting stolen property is not legal. They're trying to save their asses for putting it up for auction. Did anyone with the auction house know it was stolen? Were they a part of the theft? This crap happens all the time...groups of people around the world colluding to steal the treasures of other countries and selling them off to private owners. They have to suspect everyone for now.

[Savage Beast]

Hey, wait a minute. Just because Appius was stationed in Singidunum 2,000 years ago, doesn't mean the Serbian Government has any claim to it.

The nation of Serbia and the city of Belgrade did not exist then.

Who's to say Appius or some other Roman in a position of authority didn't give it to someone in some country other than Serbia? Or sell it? Or that it has anything to do with Serbia?

It seems to me that the burden is on the Serbian Government to prove that the helmet belongs to them.

If I find a helmet buried in my back yard inscribed with "Appius of Legio IV Flavia Felix", I think the Government of Serbia would have to prove it's theirs if they want to claim it.

[DCBryan1]