Bavaria, 1/2 Gulden, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 1) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This color lithograph was produced around 1890 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as an advertisement insert for their cigarettes. The card depicts a coin from Bavaria, a 1/2 Gulden dated 1838, anthropomorphized as a man in traditional Bavarian dress. The figure is stereotypical, even caricatured, referencing the visual codes of folk culture that were popular at the time. The use of national symbols in advertising reveals the rise of mass consumer culture and how companies exploited national identities to sell their products. This series, "Coins of All Nations," speaks to an era of global trade and imperial expansion. The claim that the coin is worth 18 cents invites us to reflect on the economic relationships between nations. To better understand this image, historians might explore archives of advertising companies and study the history of Bavaria in the 19th century. This artwork offers insights into the social and economic context of its time, highlighting the intersections of national identity, consumerism, and global trade.