Drachm of Sybaris, 600 B.C., 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
63.350.216.180.66
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century collecting with this charming *Drachm of Sybaris, 600 B.C.*, a commercial color lithograph from William S. Kimball & Company'sAncient Coins* series (N180), produced in 1888. just 1 1/2 × 2 5/8 inches, this tiny print captures the intricate details of an ancient Greek silver coin from the opulent city of Sybaris in southern Italy—a hub of luxury and wealth in Magna Graecia around 600 B.C. Issued as part of a popular tobacco premium series, it reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity, blending education with advertising to delight collectors. T...
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...