British Iron Age Coins, Ancient Coins, and Antiquities

16th century, a lead Papal bulla of Clement VII (1523-34), 43mm diameter, 3mm thick, clemens pp vii in three lines, rev. heads of St Peter and St Paul vis-à-vis, surrounded by beaded border and divided by a central cross patonce. Obverse very fine, reverse only fair, grey patina £80-£100

found at Hevingham, Norfolk; this is the first bulla of this Pope to be found near Norwich

There are two styles of bulla for Clement VII of which this is the earlier. Henry VIII tried to persuade Clement VII to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, but Clement refused as Catherine was the aunt of Charles V of Spain, and Spain had attacked Rome in 1527 holding the pope under Spanish authority. Henry married Anne Boleyn and was subsequently excommunicated.