Tetradrachm Perseus, 168 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
63.350.216.180.45
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the captivating world of 19th ephemera with *Tetradrachm Perseus, 168 B.C.*, a diminutive yet dazzling commercial color lithograph from S. Kimball & Company'sAncient Coins* series (N180), produced in 1888. This tiny print (just 1 1/2 × 2 5/8 inches) faithfully reproduces an ancient Macedonian tetradrachm coin Perseus, the last king of Macedon, around 168 B.C.—a pivotal year marking his defeat by Rome at the Battle of Pydna. Part of a popular series of collectible trade cards inserted into cigarette packs, it reflects the era's blend of commerce and classical education, enticing smoke...
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...