Nomos AG
Auction 25 20 Nov 2022
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ITALY. Papal States. Nicholas I, 858-867. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 36.5 mm, 33.58 g, 12 h), Rome. + / PA/PAE in three lines within circular border of dots. Rev. +NICOLAI around star of eight rays within circular linear border; all within circular border of dots . Serifini 10. Extremely rare, clear and well-preserved. Lacquered and with an old pit on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.
From the Dr. Pelc Dens Sapientiae Collection, USA, ex Classical Numismatic Group 63, 21 May 2003, 1871.
Nicholas I was a highly influential and energetic pope: thus, he was known as the Great and by 1630 was regarded as a Saint. He was famous for his struggles with the emperor Louis II and with king Lothar II of Lotharingia over Lothar's repudiation of his barren wife Teutberga in favour of his more fecund mistress Waldrada: this caused endless struggles. He also attempted to control the Church in Constantinople, going so far as to attempt to excommunicate the Patriarch Photius I (858-867 and 877-886) because of his role in deposing Patriarch Ignatius (847-858 and 867-877); in the end Photios excommunicated Nicholas (though Nicholas had died before the notice reached Rome). Oddly enough, Photios was canonised by the Eastern Orthodox Church as Saint Photios the Great in 1847; while Ignatius was canonised by both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches! Another thing that Nicholas I did was decree that a rooster, the symbol of Saint Peter, the first pope, be placed on top of all churches. Thus, churches began to have weather vanes with roosters on them (the oldest known surviving weather vane, il Gallo di Ramperto, is a rooster dating to c. 820-830 and was on the steeple of the church of San Faustino in Brescia - now in the Museo di Santa Giulia in Brescia). In modern times, roosters tend to primarily, but not solely, be on the roofs of Protestant churches.
From the Dr. Pelc Dens Sapientiae Collection, USA, ex Classical Numismatic Group 63, 21 May 2003, 1871.
Nicholas I was a highly influential and energetic pope: thus, he was known as the Great and by 1630 was regarded as a Saint. He was famous for his struggles with the emperor Louis II and with king Lothar II of Lotharingia over Lothar's repudiation of his barren wife Teutberga in favour of his more fecund mistress Waldrada: this caused endless struggles. He also attempted to control the Church in Constantinople, going so far as to attempt to excommunicate the Patriarch Photius I (858-867 and 877-886) because of his role in deposing Patriarch Ignatius (847-858 and 867-877); in the end Photios excommunicated Nicholas (though Nicholas had died before the notice reached Rome). Oddly enough, Photios was canonised by the Eastern Orthodox Church as Saint Photios the Great in 1847; while Ignatius was canonised by both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches! Another thing that Nicholas I did was decree that a rooster, the symbol of Saint Peter, the first pope, be placed on top of all churches. Thus, churches began to have weather vanes with roosters on them (the oldest known surviving weather vane, il Gallo di Ramperto, is a rooster dating to c. 820-830 and was on the steeple of the church of San Faustino in Brescia - now in the Museo di Santa Giulia in Brescia). In modern times, roosters tend to primarily, but not solely, be on the roofs of Protestant churches.