Caricatured Japanese figure, 2 Yen, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 1) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This is a lithograph made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of the series Coins of All Nations. These cards were included in cigarette packs as collectibles, reflecting the burgeoning global trade and cultural exchange of the late 19th century, albeit through a lens of American commercial interests. The caricature of a Japanese figure holding a rose, with a coin superimposed on the body, speaks volumes about the period's perception of Japan. The exaggerated features and stylized pose play into orientalist stereotypes, reducing a complex culture to a set of easily digestible, exoticized tropes. What is more, the figure is genderless, and the values underneath the figure show the value of the Yen compared to the American dollar, reducing the figure to the status of currency. The card participates in a visual rhetoric that essentializes national identity through caricature. As we consider this image, let’s reflect on the power dynamics inherent in representation and the emotional impact of such objectification.