Naseby Cup

This magnificent silver cup was commissioned by John and Mary Frances Fitzgerald, the Lord and Lady of the Manor at Naseby, to commemorate the Battle of Naseby. Fought on June 14, 1645, the battle was part of the English Civil War between King Charles I and the British Parliament led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. Elaborate silverworks became popular in England during the Victorian era, though subject matter and function varied considerably. To produce the piece, seventy-two coins, counters, and medals from the period of the English Civil War were integrated into the silver trophy. Many of these are incredibly rare and include a New England Shilling dating to 1652, as well as a large gold Crown of Charles I, which was minted in Oxford in 1644 and depicts a horseman and a view of the city.