History of Playing Cards: 7 Cool Facts You Didn't Know

Apr. 05, 2023

Whether you are a master card player or you like to play various card games with your friends every once in a while, you likely have a deck of cards in your home. Maybe you have also tried to learn a few magic card tricks at some point or another. No matter how much you know about card games, there are some interesting facts about playing cards that might surprise you. For example, you might now know how card games developed in South African culture or where they originated from. Therefore, today we have decided to share a few cool facts about the history of playing cards and card games that we all love.

• Playing Cards Have More Than 1000 Years of History

One of the most important things to know about playing cards is that they have a long history and you might be surprised to learn that they were invented in a surprising location. Most scholars agree that they originated in China in the 9^th century during the era of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, this was a 32-card domino deck, which is the maximum number of combinations of a pair of dice. As a result, nowadays, you can find a deck of cards in almost every household around the world, despite all of the advancements in technology and online games we have witnessed over the last few years.

• Casinos Change Decks of Cards More Often Than You Realise

A deck of cards can be in play for up to 12 hours in casinos, before it is discarded. Also, sometimes a deck might last only an hour or two, if you visit a casino during a busy time. However, if you want to play card games from the comfort of your home, you can have the ultimate live casino experience at PlayLive, which offers a variety of exciting games, ranging from fun online slots like Cash Pig to traditional table games, where you can test your skills.

• Cards Represent A Calendar Year

Many people wonder why there are exactly 52 cards in a deck, and as a result, different theories have emerged. One of the most popular ones states that the number of cards in a deck represents a calendar year. Also, it’s believed that the two colours red and black refer to day and night and the four suits reflect the four seasons. There are also 12 court cards, which are considered to symbolise the 12 months of the year. Moreover, the number of all the symbols in a single deck of cards is 365.

• The Oldest Deck of Cards Can Be Found In NYC

If you want to see the oldest and rarest deck of cards in the world, you will have to head out to NYC. It’s on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, dating back to mid-15^th century Netherlands. You will also find that the cards are in great condition, meaning that they were hardly used. In addition, there are other centuries-old decks that can be seen at other institutions, such as Yale University and Topkapu Museum in Istanbul.

• Some Card Characters Are Inspired By History Figures

It’s possible that some faces might look familiar if you play with traditional cards, produced from the 16^th century onwards. Some of the card characters you will find are based on, or inspired by figures from history and mythology. For instance, you might be able to recognise Julius Cesar as the King of Diamonds or Alexandre the Great as the King of Clubs. Also, you may notice the Greek goddess Pallas Athena as the Queen of Spades. Moreover, prior to the modern suits that we are familiar with, there used to be Swords, Cups, Clubs, and Coins suits.

• The Ace of Spades Has A Slightly Different Design

The Ace of Spades has always seemed a bit more different than other cards, and there is actually an important historical reason behind this. During the 18^th century, the ruling classes in England and France wanted to take advantage of the increasing popularity of playing cards, so they decided to impose a tax on every single deck of cards. As a result, the Ace of Spades would receive a special stamp to prove that the tax was paid. In 1828, many manufacturers began producing decks of cards with a special Ace of Spades featuring lavish designs. There is also a popular card game, called the Ace of Spades, which can be played for fun or for money.

• A Deck of Cards Has Many Incredible Mathematical Properties

Lastly, there are also many fascinating mathematical secrets hidden within a single deck of cards, that you might not be aware of. Apart from the uncanny connection to a calendar year, you may be surprised to learn that there are more ways to shuffle a deck of cards than there are atoms on Earth. This means that every time you pick up a deck of cards, and you shuffle, you will likely end up with a specific order of the playing cards, that has never existed before.