Denarius of Cordianus III, 238 A.D., from the Ancient Coins series (N180) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 1/2 × 2 5/8 in. (3.8 × 6.7 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.216.180.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century ephemera with this vibrant *Denarius of Gordianus III 238 A.D.*, a commercial color lithograph from S. Kimball & Company'sAncient Coins* series (N180), produced in 1888. Measuring just 1 1/2 × 2 5/8 inches, this petite print captures the intricate details of a Roman silver denarius featuring the youthful emperor Gordianus III, who ruled briefly from 238 to 244 A.D. as one of Rome's shortest-reigning leaders. Kimball & Co., a prominent American tobacco firm, issued these cards as promotional inserts, blending classical antiquity with everyday commerce to educ...
About the Artist
William S. Kimball & Company
**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...