English: An incomplete and damaged cast lead or lead alloy circular papal bulla of Pope Boniface IX (VIIII) dating from the medieval period November 1389 - October 1404. The bulla measures 33.6mm length, 35.8mm width and is 5.4mm thick. It weighs 36.99 grams.

 The front (recta) side of the bulla depicts the faces of Saints Peter and Paul with a cross between them. Over the images appears the abbreviation of St Paul and St Peter 'SPA SPE'. St. Paul is depicted with a long beard and a balding scalp with little hair, and St Peter has a crimped beard with curly hair formed from small sub oval pellets. Both heads are enclosed within a border of pellets (or pearls). The cross between the two heads is only partially visible due to a significant area of damage. This damage has probably been caused by the removal of the cord which attached the bulla to the document. It has left a sub-rectangular tear in the front and rear face of the seal. The reverse (verso) side of the bulla shows the name of the Pope, which is written in the nominative, with his abbreviated title (PP: Pastor Pastorum - Shepard of the Shepards) and ordinal number (VIIII). This is distributed over three lines: BONI / FIATIUS: / P P: VIIII. The F and I are ligatured. Both faces of the bullae are encircled with a border formed from a ring of pellets or 'pearls'. 


 

The papal bulla is a mid grey cream colour with an even and well formed patina which covers all surfaces. There are several small chips in the patina which have exposed the grey metal beneath. This damage is likely to have been due to movement in the plough soil. The two areas of damage around the attachment cord are covered by the same grey cream patina suggesting that this damage occurred in antiquity. The front face of the bulla is well worn, and although the detail can be seen, much of the crisp detail has been lost. In comparison the rear is in much better condition and the inscription is very crisp and the lettering is raised and relatively unworn. Papal Bullae act as a formal seal of office used by the Popes to stamp and authenticate documents produced by the curia in either Rome or in this period by the Anti-Popes in Avignon. Pope Boniface IX was elected Pope on 2nd November, 1389, as successor of the Roman Pope, Urban VI; he died in Rome on 1st October, 1404.