Miss Abel, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This vibrant chromolithograph of Miss Abel, a cigarette card, depicts a figure adorned with coins. Coins, throughout history, have not merely been symbols of wealth. Think back to ancient Greece, where coins were placed upon the eyes of the deceased to pay Charon for passage across the River Styx. Or consider the ritualistic use of coins in various cultures, believed to bring luck, prosperity, and protection. The coins here, arranged as a headpiece and necklace, evoke a sense of exoticism, a romanticized vision of the Orient, where such adornments were once deemed symbols of status. They recall the headdresses worn by Byzantine empresses, but also the costumes of dancers depicted in Orientalist paintings. This card, created for commercial purposes, participates in a long tradition of imbuing objects with symbolic power, engaging our collective memory and subconscious associations. The allure of the coin—its glint, its promise—continues to captivate.