Tetradrachm of Dionysios, 406 B.C., from the Ancient Coins series (N180) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the captivating world of 19th ephemera with this petite commercial color lithograph,Tetradrachm of Dionysios, 406.C.*, from the Ancient Coins series (N180 Produced in 1888 by William. Kimball & Company—a Rochester, New York-based tobacco firm 1 1/2 × 2 5/8-inch print vividly reproduces an ancient Greek silver coin minted in Syracuse around 406 B.C. during the rule of the powerful tyrant Dionysios I. These tiny treasures were likely distributed as promotional inserts in cigarette packages, blending classical antiquity with everyday consumer culture. The artwork showcases the artistry of color lithography, a booming commercial printing technique in the Gilded Age that allowed for vibrant, mass-produced images with fine detail and rich hues. By faithfully capturing the intricate designs of ancient tetradrachms—four-drachma coins symbolizing wealth and prestige in the Greek world—Kimball's series educated and enticed collectors, sparking a fad for numismatic trade cards. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how ephemera bridged high art and popular pastimes. Burdick's generous gift preserves these snapshots of Victorian fascination with the classical past, reminding us how a simple coin image could travel from ancient Sicily to American pockets.

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company · 1850–1950

**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...