The King of Hearts: A Deck's Only Mustache-Free Monarch

Pick up any standard deck of playing cards and examine the four kings. You'll notice something peculiar about the King of Hearts—he's completely clean-shaven above the lip. While the kings of Spades, Clubs, and Diamonds all sport prominent mustaches, the King of Hearts stands alone as the only mustacheless monarch in the deck.

This quirk isn't a modern design choice or printing error. It's a feature that's been passed down through centuries of card-making tradition, originating from the evolution of woodblock printing techniques used to create playing cards in medieval Europe.

How the King Lost His Mustache

Early playing cards were hand-painted, making each deck unique. But as demand grew, manufacturers turned to woodblock printing to mass-produce cards more efficiently. Each generation of card makers would carve new blocks based on existing cards, essentially creating copies of copies.

Through this process—much like a game of telephone—small details gradually changed or disappeared entirely. The King of Hearts' mustache was one such casualty. Whether it faded during re-carving, was accidentally omitted, or deliberately removed to distinguish him from other kings remains a mystery lost to time.

The Suicide King's Other Quirks

The King of Hearts has earned the nickname "the Suicide King" because he appears to be stabbing himself in the head with his sword. Look closely—his sword is positioned behind his head, but the blade seems to pass through it. This is another artifact of the copying process. Originally, the king held a battle axe over his shoulder, but through generations of re-carving, the axe morphed into a sword that appears to pierce his skull.

He's also the only king shown in profile view, facing left, which further sets him apart from his fellow monarchs.

What About the Other Kings?

• King of Spades (David): Features a prominent mustache and curly hair, holds a sword, faces right
• King of Clubs (Alexander the Great): Sports both a mustache and beard, holds a sword and orb
• King of Diamonds (Julius Caesar): Has a mustache, shown in profile facing right, holds an axe

Each king in a traditional deck is thought to represent a historical or legendary ruler, though these associations vary by region and aren't universally standardized.

A Standardized Accident

What started as a quirk of medieval card production became standardized when playing card designs were formalized. Modern manufacturers preserve these "imperfections" because they've become defining characteristics that make a standard deck recognizable worldwide.

So next time you're shuffling cards for poker night or building a house of cards, take a moment to appreciate the King of Hearts—a clean-shaven monarch who's been losing his mustache for over 500 years, one woodblock copy at a time.