File:Medieval Papal bulla (FindID 221123).jpg

English: Medieval lead papal bulla of Innocent III (1198-1216), ripped in half, preserving only the right-hand side (when looking at the obverse). The bulla is in worn condition and while the lettering is clear enough, no sharp details survive on the obverse side. Identification of the bulla is made more complex as the object survives as only about a third of the bulla. The lettering is thus: IO/IVS/II· The initial downward strokes are in fact the remains of other letters.

This combination of letters, their style, and the standard medieval depiction of St Paul on the reverse, shows that the only candidates for this bulla are Innocent III, Honorius III (1216-27) and Innocent IV (1243-54). Innocent IV may be discounted as his bullae use a dot after the final 'S' and the S itself has a forked lower serif. Honorius III has a more similar style of 'O' and 'S', but there is more space between the lettering and the pelleted edge and his pelleting is smaller and more closely spaced. By contrast, the letter spacing and size of pellet match those of Innocent III's bullae and there are the correct number of pellets (8) between the top serif of the 'S' and the top of the final 'O'.

Like the obverse, the reverse is worn and therefore reveals no obvious die-flaws. The small size of the bulla fragment means that it is not possible to measure the orientation of the obverse compared to reverse. The rip that has left the bulla incomplete obviously extends down the cord-line, showing this cord to have been sealed slightly off-centre.

While this bulla is worn and of a relatively common issue, it is of interest in representing the second bulla of Innocent III to have been found in this field at Fransham. Might this possibly suggest the disposal or loss of a bundle of documents here?