Russia, 3 Rubles, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 1) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This late 19th-century chromolithograph trading card, "Russia, 3 Rubles," was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of their "Coins of All Nations" series. The card’s composition is immediately striking in its unusual combination of caricature and numismatic representation. Visually, the card presents a cartoonish Cossack figure, perched precariously atop an oversized Russian coin as if riding a horse. The coin, meticulously rendered with Cyrillic inscriptions and the year 1880, serves as both the symbolic and literal foundation of the image. The artist uses bold lines and vibrant colors to emphasize the figure's exaggerated features. The figure, in turn, is destabilized by its cartoonish form which creates a tension between cultural representation and commercial advertisement. This playful juxtaposition highlights a broader cultural and philosophical discourse around value and representation. The material worth of the coin, juxtaposed with the Cossack figure, hints at complex interplay between national identity, economic value, and the commodification of culture inherent in advertising. This visual structure invites us to consider how cultural symbols are transformed and reinterpreted through the lens of commercial interests.