My first Papal item: Rome, Gregory X (Tebaldo Visconti), 1272-1276 Bulla 1272-1276, PB 38mm., 90.33g. GRЄ/GORIVS/· P P · X’ · in three lines; all within linear-beaded border; (Ω above P P). Rev. S PA S PE Bare heads of Sts. Paul and Peter, facing slightly r. and l., respectively, each within beaded halo; cruciform sceptrr between; all within beaded-linear border. Serafini I 1-2. Please pile-on anything related to the Church or crusades.
Papal Bulls were not all that common. Do you have any idea what the subject of the Bull was all about? From the date, maybe something in connection with putting down the Albigensians.
Those are called chrysobulls, which are golden bulls. Here is a Byzantine one. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=200258
Gregory X only wrote one, concerning the election of Popes. I have not read it yet but ideally I’ll get a real vellum one to go with the bulla.
Very interesting — don't believe I'd ever seen one of these before. Rather strong Byzantine ambience from the text-only obverse. Are those things above and beside the "PP X" symbols or just deficiencies in the strike?
Omega above PP but the other thing might be an error. Unfortunately I won’t have an opportunity to inspect for another week.
The ‘9’ symbol after the ‘X’ is a latin abbreviation for ‘us.’ The omega above the ‘P’s is another abbreviation denoting that the ‘a’s in ‘papa’ (pope) are missing. So the bull reads “Gregorius Papa Decimus”
What a great coin @Nicholas Molinari! I have no papal items (yet), but just recently purchased this Crusader coin from Tripoli, minted in the same years as your coin. CRUSADER, Tripoli 1275-1287 AD, Bohemond VII AR Half Gros 2.10 gm - 20mm Obv: +CIVITΛS: TRIPOLIS:SVRIΕ, or var, Fortified gateway in tressure, a triple-toward gateway of two stories, with crenellations and pointed arches Rev: +SEPTIMVS : BOEMVNDVS : COMES, or var, Cross in tressure of 12 arches Reference: MPS.27
I have a lead bulla much like the OP, but a bit later. It was issued by Pope Benedict XII, one of the Avignon popes, and I suppose this lead seal might have been issued in Avignon instead of Rome. It's rather oval and there's a deep hole at the lower side, probably because there was a ribbon through it, fastening it to the charter it came with. I suppose that charter was of vellum, written in dozens or hundreds of copies to disseminate the papal text into the Christian world. All with bullas. This bulla must have been in the ground, it's covered in grey grime, and the hole is silted up. Many others probably slumbered in ecclesiastical archives for centuries before these were ripped open and destroyed, for instance in Napoleonic times. Mine is much lighter than that of Nicholas: Lead bulla, Avignon, Pope Benedictus XII (1334-1342). Obv. Saints Paul and Peter under text SPE-SPA. Rev. BENE/ DICTVS/ PP-XII. 35 x 40 mm, 49.22 gr., 12h.
Its an area I am interested in but not my strong suit to be sure. RichardIII 1483-1485 CE, Silver Groat, type III, London mint, crowned facing bust, within tressure of nine arcs, large fleur on six cusps, initial sun and rose 3 both sides, rev long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, twin concentric legends and beaded circles surrounding, 2.71g (N 1679; S 2157)
