Caricatured Persian, 5 Kran, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 2) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

W. Duke, Sons & Co. produced this lithograph trading card, "Caricatured Persian, 5 Kran," as part of their "Coins of All Nations" series to be included in packages of Duke brand cigarettes. The turn of the century was a period marked by American imperialist expansion, alongside increasingly restrictive immigration policies rooted in racist ideologies and cultural chauvinism. As such, this particular image is far from an innocent celebration of global diversity. Instead, it reflects a climate of Western cultural arrogance and racial stereotyping. Here, we see the figure of a "Persian" man, likely based on a photograph, but crudely caricatured with exaggerated features, standing barefoot in a cartoonish stance. In the place of his abdomen is a Persian coin, almost as if to suggest that the man is no more than a mere stand-in for currency. The card reduces a person to a set of demeaning stereotypes, reflecting the era's widespread prejudice and distorted perceptions of non-Western cultures. The emotional impact of this image lies in its stark demonstration of how cultural insensitivity and racial biases were casually disseminated through everyday commercial products. It compels us to confront the uncomfortable reality of how deeply ingrained these prejudices were, and perhaps still are.