Caricatured figure from Siam, 1/4 Tikal, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 1) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

W. Duke, Sons & Co. created this vibrant lithograph trading card around the turn of the 20th century. It is part of a series that exoticizes and commodifies cultures through the lens of currency. The composition is immediately striking. The card depicts a caricatured figure, seemingly weighed down by the very currency they represent. Note the distorted proportions: an oversized head and feet sandwiching the coin, reducing the human form to a mere support structure. Consider the implications of this visual structure. It reduces a person to the level of a monetary object, reinforcing a colonial power dynamic where individuals are defined and valued primarily by their economic utility. The rigid lines of text denoting “Siam” and the coin's value further objectify the subject. The use of caricature destabilizes any authentic representation of culture. It challenges our expectations and exposes how easily images can be manipulated. This raises profound questions about representation, value, and the power dynamics inherent in visual culture.