2,000-year-old Roman helmet fetches 2.2m pounds at auction

London, Oct 8 (ANI): A 2,000-year-old Roman helmet-dug up in 30 pieces by a treasure hunter who thought it was a broken Victorian ornament-has been sold for 2.2 million pounds at an auction.

Frenzied bidding for the ultra rare bronze cavalry headgear-featuring a facemask-astonished London auctioneers Christie's, reports the Sun.

The helmet, expected to fetch 300,000-pound, was discovered in a Cumbrian field at Crosby Garrett near Carlisle in May, and pieced together by Christie's.

The farmer who owns the land will share in the 2,281,250 pound.

A Carlisle museum raised 1.5 million pounds in a bid to buy the helmet.

"It would be the masterpiece of our Roman collection," said Council chief Mike Mitchelson.

Just two other such helmets have ever been found in Britain - and both are in museums. (ANI)