Caricatured Haitian, 50 Centimes, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 2) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Caricatured Haitian,50 Centimes*, a tiny gem from the *Coins of All Nations* (N72, variation2), produced by W. Duke, & Co. in 1889. This commercial color lithograph, measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches, was likely a collectible insert in Duke brand cigarette packs—a clever marketing tactic to boost sales among enthusiasts. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it captures a caricatured figure tied to Haiti's 50-centimes coin, blending numismatics with playful exaggeration amid global curiosity about foreign currencies. Lithography's chromolithographic process shines here, enabling bold, affordable color printing that made such ephemera accessible to the masses. Duke's cards, classified as prints and ephemera, reflect the era's booming tobacco industry and the rise of trading card culture, which educated and entertained while promoting products. This piece highlights late Victorian fascination with world coins, evoking imperialism's shadow through its stylized depiction of a man, tagged simply as "Men" and "Coins." Though diminutive, it offers a window into everyday commerce and collecting fever, preserved as a testament to innovative American printmaking. Visit the Drawings and Prints department to see how these pocket-sized artifacts shaped popular visual culture.

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1870–1920

**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...