Lead, 37.10 grams, 36.91 dia, approx 4mm thickness. 13th century AD. A lead seal from a document issued by Pope Nicholas IV. The iconography of papal bulls has not altered since the time of Pope Pasquale II (1099-1118) - one face bears the name of the issuing Pope and the other the opposed profile heads of SS. Peter and Paul with a cruciform emblem between and a form of the identifying abbreviated legend 'SPASPE', (Sanctus Petrus Sanctus Paulus 'Saint Peter, Saint Paul') on the other. The present example shows on the recto the faces executed in low relief in a realistic style within a border of fine dots, below the legend. On the verso is the text N[..]O/LAUS/PP.IIII. The bulla is in good very fine condition with a sturdy, thick flan. Provenance: found Berkshire, England.

Nicholas IV was born Girolamo Masci at Ascoli in Italy in 1227 AD and first became prominent in church affairs in 1272 when he led a papal delegation to Byzantium. In 1281 Pope Martin IV appointed him Bishop of Palestrina. He was elected pope in 1288 but declined the position, only being persuaded to accept after a second election the following year. The career of Nicholas IV was marred by the domination of the Roman see by the Colonna family, by close papal involvement in affairs of state in several European countries and by abortive attempts to organise a crusade to recapture Christian territories in Egypt. Nicholas sent missions under John of Monte Corvino to several foreign territories including Ethiopia, the Mongol court and China. He died in his palace at Rome in 1292 AD.