Tetradrachm of Tigranos, 80 B.C., from the Ancient Coins series (N180) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This is a card from the "Ancient Coins" series issued by the tobacco firm William S. Kimball & Co. It depicts a tetradrachm coin of Tigranes the Great dating from 80 B.C. Produced as a collectible insert for cigarette packages, the card reflects the late 19th-century fascination with antiquity, leveraging it for commercial purposes. The image presents Tigranes wearing the Armenian tiara, adorned with images of a star and eagles - visual symbols of power that spoke to his imperial ambitions. The history of numismatics reveals how coins functioned not just as currency, but as potent tools of propaganda. Tigranes used these coins to broadcast his authority across a vast, multicultural empire. By studying coinage alongside archaeological records and ancient texts, we gain insight into the economies, politics, and cultural values of bygone eras. This mass produced card therefore signals the start of a modern obsession with ancient history, using it to cement the status of a modern commercial brand.