Tetradrachm Perseus, 168 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 *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 smokers with glimpses of antiquity. Chromolithography, the innovative color printing technique used here, allowed for vivid, multi-layered hues on a mass scale, transforming humble advertising inserts into miniature works of art. Kimball & Co., a Rochester-based tobacco firm, leveraged these cards to build brand loyalty while popularizing numismatics among everyday Americans. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American prints and ephemera—this piece highlights how Victorian-era marketing bridged ancient history and modern consumer culture, sparking curiosity about the heroic myths and royal legacies etched on ancient silver. (198 words)

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...