Knight of Coins 1751

This is the Knight of Coins, a woodblock print made in Switzerland in the late 18th century by Claude Burdel. It’s one of 78 cards that together make up a tarot deck. The imagery of tarot is steeped in cultural and historical associations. The Knight of Coins is named "Cavalier De Denier" which is old French for "Knight of Coins." The figures in the deck reference the medieval social hierarchy, with knights and other courtly figures prominent among them. The knight's placement on horseback may signal the importance of transportation and trade to society at the time. The imagery also draws on older astrological and religious ideas: the coin in the upper right corner, for instance, is a symbol of earthly wealth. The practice of tarot speaks to social and cultural beliefs around fate, fortune, and spirituality. To fully understand this card, we might research the changing social status of knights, look at trade routes, and study the beliefs and rituals of the period. It's through this historical lens that the cards begin to reveal their true meanings.