“Under the guard of heavily armed, balaclava-clad police, prosecutors unveiled the 2,500-year-old Coțofenești helmet, one of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization, during a news conference in the eastern Dutch city of Assen.”

“Two of three missing armbands were also recovered as part of a deal prosecutors reached with three men arrested for the heist shortly after it occurred. Their trial will begin later in April.”

“The helmet did not return unscathed. 'The helmet is slightly dented, but there will be no permanent damage,' Drents Museum director Robert van Langh said during the news conference.”

“Thieves used a homemade firework bomb and sledgehammer to break into the museum. Grainy security video distributed by police after the raid appeared to show three people opening a museum door with a large crowbar, followed by an explosion.”

“The theft put a strain on relations between the Netherlands and Romania”

“Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu last year called the incident a 'crime against our state' and said recovering the artifacts 'is an absolute priority.'”