Procurator Rufus, 33 A.D. / Pontius Pilate, 29 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
63.350.216.180.62
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, tobacco companies like William S. Kimball & Co revolutionized marketing with collectible trade cards inserted into cigarette packs. This vibrant 1888 commercial color lithograph titled *Procurator, 33 A.D. / Pontius Pilate, 29.D.*, belongs to their "Ancient Coins series (180)." Measuring just 1 1/2 × 2 5/8 inches, it faithfully reproduces two ancient Roman coins—one linked to Pontius Pilate, the infamous prefect of Judea during Jesus's trial (circa 26–36 A.D.), and the other to the lesser-known Procurator Rufus. These pocket-sized gems tapped into the era's fascinatio...
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...