English: A complete cast lead papal bulla of Innocent IV, dating from AD 1243 - 1254 (diameter: 39mm; thickness: 3.5mm; weight: 33.9g).

On the obverse (recta) of the bulla, the head of St. Paul is on the left and is usually depicted with complete facial features and a straight linear and pointed beard. However, on this bulla, the face of St. Paul is badly worn and pitted due to mostly damage. On the right, St. Peter is also depicted with worn facial features and his hair and beard are formed by pellets. Above the heads, the saints' abbreviations are still partly visible with '[SP]A' for St. Paul to the left and 'SPE' for St. Peter to the right. Both heads are separately surrounded by a tear-drop formation of linear beads, with a worn cross pattée supported on a staff between them. There is also an additional circular beaded border running around the outside edge of the bulla.

It should be noted that there are small amounts of blue tack present on the obverse (recta) side of the bulla.

On the reverse (verso) of the bulla, the inscription reads 'INNOCENTIVS PP.IIII', also within a circular beaded border running around the outside edge. The 'PP' means 'pastor pastorum' and is translated as 'shepherd of the shepherds'. There is also an omega symbol above the letters 'PP'. The bulla is in a worn and damaged but fair condition. There is also blue tack on the recta side, which also makes it difficult to identify particualr features on the bulla.

In his publication 'Finds Identified' [2000], pages 4-5, Gordon Bailey states that these seals 'were attached to Papal documents (or 'bulls' as they were called) that were issued by the offices of the Pope. A document with a Papal Bulla attached signified that it had been issued with the Pope's authority'.