The Anglian Helmet from Coppergate, York |
|
| Material | Iron, brass containing 85% copper |
|---|---|
| Created | 8th century |
| Discovered | 1982 Coppergate York |
| Present location | Yorkshire Museum |
The Coppergate Helmet (also known as York Helmet) is an 8th century Anglo-Saxon crested helm in York. It has two cheek plates, a mail curtain and a nose-guard, and is richly decorated with brass ornamentation. On analysis it was found to be made of iron with decorations of brass containing approximately 85 percent copper.[1] The brass band across the crest bears a Latin inscription:
An alternative interpretation suggests the following translation:
Oshere is a male Anglian name and XPI are the first three letters of the word Christos Χριστός (khristos) in Greek.[1] The helmet had been hidden in a well found near what is now the JORVIK Viking Centre, and was damaged as it was uncovered by a mechanical digger in 1982. It is now in the Yorkshire Museum.[3]