Peru, 1 Dinero, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 2) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This small lithograph, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920, was one of a series of collectible cards tucked into packages of Duke brand cigarettes. The process of lithography allowed for mass production, making these cards affordable and widely accessible. But what does its imagery tell us? The card depicts a stereotyped Peruvian man holding a rifle, alongside a 1 Dinero coin. The coin itself, carefully rendered, speaks to trade and value. The "Value 6 Cents" printed on the card, however, reduces a nation's currency to a mere token within the context of American consumer culture. This contrast between the detailed representation of the coin, and the caricatured figure, highlights the complex relationship between the United States and other nations during this period of expanding global trade and imperialism. The card, a product of industrial capitalism, flattens cultural difference into a consumable image, raising questions about labor, value, and the power dynamics embedded in everyday objects.