The Ace of Spades is the most elaborate card in the deck, especially in the 1800s and into the early 1900s. Pictured here are the aces that the Congress brand used from the 1880s up to the 1980s. Congress brand playing cards are still made to this day. Dates in the captions are based on decks from my collection and are as accurate as can be.
(Photos courtesy of Kevan Seaney and Matt Schacht)