Protective Equipment
(Roman helmets, and Body Armour are shown in a seperate section)

Roman Shields
 

Two basic types exist in parallel:

• The rectangular scutum, sometimes with a square shield boss, as seen on Traian's column and from the excavations of  Dura Europos. This type was infantry only, and mainly used by legionary forces.
• Auxiliary and Cavalry shields are oval or round, with round shield bosses of iron or brass.

The Dura Europos Scutum, copyright for the foto Yale Art Museum, please respect the copyright !
copyright for the foto Yale Art Museum, please respect the copyright !
 
 

Construction details of Roman shields according to Bishop and Coulston, left Republican, right from Dura Europos

Drawings from Roman Military Equipment by Bishop & Coulston, Edition 2, 2006 © M.C. Bishop
 

Highly decorated shieldboss (umbo) from the Guttmann Collection
  and another one 
Image courtesy David S. Michaels / Julian Dendy, Legio VI VPF USA and Legio XIIII R.M.R.S. UK

Below a shield boss with two dedicatory inscriptions in latin using greek letters, from a soldier of the Imperial Horse Guard (Equites Singulares).
Battle damage in the center, richly decorated (punched/incised), tinned bronze. First (and only) piece of military equipment directly attributable to the  imperial horse guards. Dedicated by Flavius Volussinus to the memory of Marcus Ulpius, member of the horse guard. Most likely period of Dacian wars/Trajanic. For further information see exhibition catalogue "Alles geritzt: Botschaften aus der Antike".    ISBN nr. 3-927806-34-x, pages 40-41, catalogue nr. 69a. Munich Archeological Museum (private collection).
On the collar various weapons like crossed shields, greaves, cuirasses, helmets, two victories holding clipeii with punched inscriptions. Cuppa shows in central face Medusa, around Roman gods Mars, Apollo, Jupiter, Hercules, Bacchus, and Roman cavalry soldier on horseback riding down a barbarian. Shield nails decorated with Medusa heads.

Auxiliary and Cavalry shields had oval or round shape and a round shield boss

Drawings from Roman Military Equipment by Bishop & Coulston, Edition 2, 2006 © M.C. Bishop
 

Brass borders of a scutum (Nijmegen Museum)

Shield borders from Vindonissa (CH)

Drawings from Roman Military Equipment by Bishop & Coulston, Edition 2, 2006 © M.C. Bishop

Legionary Scutum cover in leather, Leiden Museum, NL

Drawings of Shield Covers from the first Century AD

Drawings from Roman Military Equipment by Bishop & Coulston, Edition 2, 2006 © M.C. Bishop
 

Related Sections of the Roman Numismatic Gallery:

The  Location of Roman Legions from Caesar to ca. 300 AD is summarized in a table.
Military Equipment
Military Diploma
Roman Legionary Bricks
Countermarks of roman legions on coins are shown in the Legionary Countermark section.
Coins making reference to roman legions are to be found in the Legionary Coin section.
Wars and Victories on Roman coins.
Roman Military Main Page