Roman helmet feather question

[Prof.Witchheimer]

can anyone tell me when the roman helmet design was changed

from this



to this?



From what I know in the 2 century BC. Would like to know more precisely.

It's all about using of the Republican Romans from Aventine, would like to to know if they could be of use at some point in the early 1 century BC.

[Mad Doc Morris]

As with any kind of Roman 'uniform' I would be surprised if anyone can provide reliable data here. IIRC the three feathered crest is based on Polybios' description, so viable for the Punic Wars in general. The horsehair plume in turn comes from sculptural evidence, namely the Domitius Ahenobarbus monument.
However, since both types were mountable on the popular Montefortino helmet, I couldn't tell when which format dropped out of fashion. Might have something to do with Marius' change to a professional army and the abolition of different types of legionaries along with their signs of rank. But, again, that's purely conjectural.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

I was afraid you would say that Though I guess that the three-feather-crest in all probability would be rather out of fashion in the 1 century.

Also all the Osprey&Co’s don’t feature that one in their illustrations for the period.

[War In 15MM]

Page 83 of Trajan's Column and the Dacian Wars by Lino Rossi has a photo of a Roman helmet that looks very much like your pictures.  Is it possible that you might find some representation on the column of the helmet you're looking for?

[Parriah]

That would seem to mean that there is a possibility they were used all the way through, possibly by auxiliary units, wouldn't it?

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Sure, that's possible.

[YPU]

I'm not sure how practical equipping an entire army with the tri feathered one would be, as any reenactor who ever whore a feather will probably confirm, those things break easily and an army with a whole assortment of broken feathers on their heads would look sort of ridiculous I think.

[Parriah]

They could be for parade, and or garrison,  and not for field work too.