Rare Medieval Lead Papal Bull of Pope Benedict XI

22ND OCTOBER 1303-7TH JULY 1304 A.D.

1 1/2 in. (27.8 grams, 38 mm).

With faces of the saints Peter and Paul within a border of raised pellets, above the heads 'SPA' for St. Paul to the left and 'SPE' for St. Peter to the right; the with BENE//DICTVS//.PP .XI. also within a border of raised pellets, the 'PP' stands for 'pastor pastorum' which translates as 'shepherd of the shepherds'. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Rylstone, North Yorkshire, UK, circa 2018.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-A73B69.

Footnotes

Papal bullae are lead seals that were attached to papal documents to authenticate them. A bulla was attached to its document using a cord, threaded through the vellum document and then passed through the bulla itself, from top to bottom.

CONDITION

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LOT 1325