File:Medieval papal bulla (Paul II) (FindID 583102).jpg

English: A late medieval lead Papal bulla of Pope Paul II (r. AD 1464-1471). Paul II was the only pope to have his matrices redesigned; his successor reverted to the usual design which is essentially preserved to this day.

On the obverse of the bulla are Saint Peter and Saint Paul nimbate and enthroned above and to each side of an orb. Uppermost between them their names are inscribed vertically . S . PAV / S . PET, an abbreviation for St. Paul and St. Peter. St. Paul is on the left of the seal looking right, depicted with a long pointed beard, holding a sword in his right hand and a book in his left. St. Peter is on the right facing left and has a rounded face with beard and curly, holding keys in his right hand and a book in his left. The scene is contained within a beaded border, with delicate foliate sprays between the thrones and the border as well as below them, either side of the orb.

The reverse of the bulla contains the legend PAVLVS . / P P . II . to the right of a scene that shows the pope enthroned left of centre, flanked by a cardinal on each side, and with his flock kneeling in prayer in the lower right. 'PP' stands for 'Pastor Pastorum', translated as 'shepherd of the shepherds', and would have had an omega above. There is a large longitudinal void on this side where the ribbon for the document (bull) has been pulled straight through this face. This obliterates the pope who would be shown seated right, as well as the steps of the throne; the cardinals are visible facing. The fine detail, including the drapery on the congregation, in noteworthy in its fine quality. The scene is surrounded by a beaded border.

There has been some circumferential damage to this bulla; a recess at the base of the faces relates to the ribbon. The faces exhibit an 11 o'clock die axis measurement.