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Auction: 7010 - Ancient, English & Foreign Coins & Comm Medals
Lot: 262

x Henry VIII, The Golden Bulla of 1527, a good quality gilt electrotype, 92mm. diam., approx. 15mm. thick, the king, in coronation robes and holding orb and sceptre, seated on a high backed classical throne, HERIC´ 8 D G AGLIE Z FRACIE R FIDEI DEFESOR Z DNS HIB, rev. ORDINE IVNGVNTVR ET PERSTANT FEDERE CVNCTA, crowned arms within Collar of the Garter, 92mm. diam, approx 15mm. thick, the two halves joined and filled, possibly with lead (Trésor pl.XIV,2; Allan Wyon, The Great Seals of England 103-104), slight wear on some highpoints but generally very fine and attractive, scarce Estimate £ 500-800 THE GOLDEN BULLA Allan Wyon gives the following information: In addition to the three Great Seals, Henry VIII sealed his confirmation of the Treaty of 1527 (the Treaty of the Cloth of Gold) with a Golden Bulla, expressly made and chased for this occasion only. The document to which it is attached, dated at London 18th September 1527, is beautifully written and illuminated and is preserved in the Archives Nationales at Paris (S.651, No.18). The Treaty of which this is the ratification is dated 30th April 1527 and is a treaty of perpetual peace between Henry VIII and Francis I, the latter engaging to pay to the former the annual sum of 50,000 crown pieces of gold. Golden Bullae were used by the Popes, the Holy Roman Emperors, and other mediaeval rulers, to seal their most important documents and were used for occasions of exceptional solemnity. Another famous ´Golden Bull´ of this period was that used by Pope Leo X when he conferred the title ´Fidei Defensor´ on Henry VIII in 1527.

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£1,500