Bronze of Nerva, 96 A.D., from the Ancient Coins series (N180) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This small card was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. and shows a bronze coin of Nerva who ruled as Roman emperor in 96 A.D. Kimball was, in fact, a tobacco company who included collectible cards like this one in their cigarette packages. What we see here is an early example of advertising making use of fine art. The card features a photographic reproduction of a Roman coin. Coins themselves were a form of mass media in the Roman Empire. They were designed to communicate the power and legitimacy of the Emperor through symbolic imagery and inscriptions. Kimball's company taps into this tradition, associating their product with the grandeur and authority of classical antiquity. To fully understand images like this, we need to consider their place in both art history and the history of commerce. Researching the advertising ephemera and collecting practices of the late 19th century helps us understand their cultural significance.