I'm sure there's an incredibly witty and intelligent explanation for every cultural good we own (as a matter of fact, I know there is). Fact is, most designers aren't coding things for cultural scientists and ethnologists, they're coding them for the common man who will read it accordingly.

That said, I was under the impression that playing cards have been used long before the Commedia, since Ancient China even, and that this is the Anglo-American play card set which AFAIK is a representation of famous kings and queens throughout history which first came into use under King James I. But I'm not really an expert in the subject of playing cards history, just something I picked up in the passing.