The New Model Army
Avril Vaughan (1937-2006)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1992
Materials
Silver
Measurements
517 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
United Kingdom
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773253
Summary
Silver, The New Model Army, medal designed by Avril Vaughan (1937-2006) and Michael Harvey (1931-2013), struck Royal Mint, Llantrisant, 1992. A silver medal commemorating the formation of the New Model Army, on 17 February 1645. The sixth medal in a set of twelve issued by the Royal Mint in 1992 and 1993, to mark the 350th Anniversary of the English Civil War. The obverse, designed by Avril Vaughan, depicts a group of New Model Army soldiers wearing their distinctive dress, including buff leather coats and lobster-tail pot helmets. Artist’s monogram 'AV' at lower edge, just to left of centre. The legend on the reverse, designed by Michael Harvey, reads 'THE NEW MODEL ARMY. / 17 FEBRUARY 1645. / For the defence of the King and Parliament'. The latter phrase is taken from the title of a pamphlet by the Earl of Essex, published in 1642.
Full description
The Civil War was fought, mainly in England, between 1642 and 1649, the result of a long struggle for power between King Charles I (1600-49) and Parliament. The New Model Army was a combat force established by Parliament in 1645 as a professional army, which would be available for service in any part of the kingdom, reducing the sometimes untrustworthy reliance on local forces. The army was only open to Puritans or others with radical religious and political views. Under the command of Sir Thomas, Lord Fairfax (1612-71), the New Model Army’s cavalry was commanded by Oliver Cromwell. The Army would subsequently play an important part in Parliament’s victory in the Second Civil War of 1647-48, and in maintaining Cromwell’s power and authority during the Protectorate. It was disbanded at the Restoration in 1660. This was the sixth in a series of twelve medals issued by the Royal Mint at monthly intervals from June 1992, to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the outbreak of the English Civil War. The twelve medals illustrate the significant points in the conflict, from the raising of Charles I’s standard at Nottingham on 22 August 1642, to his execution on 30 January 1649. The designs of the obverses of the medals were commissioned from three leading contemporary artists, John Lobban, Michael Rizzello and Avril Vaughan, whilst the reverses, each of which contains a quotation relating to the subject of the medal, were designed by the distinguished lettering artist Michael Harvey, best-known for the names of celebrated Renaissance artists carved into the stonework of the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. Michael Harvey’s original artwork for the series is in the Library of the University of Reading (URL MS 5115, file 392). The selection of the twelve episodes and the accompanying legend was devised by the historian of Tudor coinage Dr Christopher Challis. The medals were issued in silver and in bronze, in editions of 2,500 and 5,000, retailing at £84.50 or £49.50 per medal respectively. It was possible to buy the medals singly or as a set of twelve, the latter housed in an African walnut case. The whole series is in the collection at Osterley, but without the wooden case (NT 773248-773258, NT 773623). Jeremy Warren 2019
Provenance
Given to the National Trust in 1993 by George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (1910-1998).
Marks and inscriptions
Obverse, to right of left-hand soldier in front row: AV (Avril Vaughan monogram) Reverse, legend: THE NEW MODEL ARMY. / 17 FEBRUARY 1645. / For the defence of the King and Parliament
Makers and roles
Avril Vaughan (1937-2006), designer Michael Harvey (1931-2013), designer The Royal Mint, manufacturer
References
The Royal Mint Annual Report, 1991-92, p. 14.