Mithril makes Frodo’s coat of mail in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Bilbo receives the small mithril coat from Thorin’s treasure in The Hobbit and later gives it to Frodo. During the journey through Moria, the coat protects Frodo from a spear thrust that would otherwise have killed him. Frodo’s companions discover its value when they see that he has survived the attack.
Mithril is a fictional metal prized for being exceptionally light, strong, and beautiful. Its name combines Sindarin elements often interpreted as “grey” and “glitter.” The Dwarves mined it in Moria, where it was known as “true-silver” in another form.
Mithril is also connected with the history of Númenor and the Elves of Eregion in Tolkien’s wider mythology. It should not be confused with galvorn, another fictional metal appearing in Tolkien’s First Age writings.