287, Lot: 700. Estimate $100. Sold for $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papale (Stato pontificio). Eugenius IV (Gabriele Condulmer). 1431-1447. PB Bulla – Seal (36mm, 46.74 g, 12h). • EVGEN/IVS • P P/•IIII• in three lines; short cross pattée above; all within beaded border / S PA S PE, bare heads of Ss. Paulus and Petrus, facing slightly right and left, respectively, each within beaded halo; cruciform scepter between; all within beaded border. Serafini I 55 (same dies as illustration). Near VF, some deposits.

From an old English collection.

Born to a wealthy Venetian family, Eugene IV took strong action against the numerous entitlements granted to the family of his predecessor, Martin V, an act which caused a great deal of controversy, along with the Council of Basel. Improvement only began when he was forced to flee for Florence, whereupon he established a union of the Eastern and Western churches with Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaeologos.