Silver gilt, 21.5mm diameter, 4.49 grams.  + HISTORICAL + 274  337 + PAGEANT + YORK 1909 in outer circle, + CONSTANTINUS + +  + MAGNUS + NATUS + EBOR + in inner circle around laureate bust of Constantine right. Arms of York above.  Rv. FUNDATRIX QUIETIS + INVENTRIX S: CRUCIS  247  327 in outer circle, SANCTA HELENA AUGUSTA + in inner circle around bust of Helena right.  EF - Good EF, toned.

In 1909, York staged a spectacular pageant in Museum Gardens, telling the story of almost 3,000 years of history. Told in seven episodes and numberless scenes, the pageant began with iron age hunters in 800 BC, Constantine the Great, the Vikings, the Normans, the massacre of the Jews at Clifford’s Tower in 1190, the Battle of Towton during the Wars of the Roses, which led to the rise of the Tudors and Henry VIII, and ended with the civil war and the siege of York.

A special temporary grandstand was constructed, and as many as 5,000 people watched the pageant every day from July 26 to July 31, 1909, many braving heavy rain to enjoy the performances. The pageant was advertised as having 2,500 performers and it was hugely ambitious in scope. On the last day it ended with a tableau featuring York schoolchildren of the day.