Caricatured Japanese figure, 2 Yen, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 1) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with this charming *Caricatured Japanese figure 2 Yen*, a tiny gem from W. Duke, Sons & Co.'s *Coins of All Nations* (N72, variation1), produced in 1889. Issued as inserts in Duke brand cigarette packs, these cards—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—were designed to stiffen packages and spark a collecting craze among smokers. This commercial color lithograph playfully depicts a stylized Japanese figure embodying the 2 Yen coin, capturing the era's fascination with global currencies and exotic cultures during Japan's Meiji period opening to the West. Chromolithography, the innovative printing technique used here, allowed for bold, multicolored reproductions at scale, making high-quality images accessible to the masses. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American ephemera gifted in 1948—this piece highlights the tobacco industry's role in popularizing trade cards. Duke's savvy marketing helped fuel one of the first mass hobby booms, blending commerce with education on world coins. Though rooted in caricature, which often reflected Western stereotypes, the card offers a window into late Victorian consumer culture, where everyday luxuries like cigarettes doubled as portals to international intrigue. A delightful snapshot of history in your pocket!

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...