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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;cmezner, post: 7837478, member: 87809&quot;]The minting of coins with his portrait was not the reason that lead to his assassination. It certainly was a reflection of his self-glorification, which the Nobiles and the Senate could not accept and who only considered the Republican freedom as their exclusive right to power and wealth.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 48 BC Caesar made several decisions regarding the public finances (Cassius Dio, XLI, 39, 1). The treasury he had taken over when he first entered Rome was almost used up for war expenditures. Now Caesar, be it as Pontifex Maximus, Imperator or Elected Consul, seized all money, precious metals, and even temple offerings that were kept in the temples, had them melted, and minted his first Aurei with Pietas on the obverse, as well as denarii (which were put in circulation). Behind this gesture of devoutness, one can be tempted to see the cold cynicism of the statesman, who seized dedicated temple offerings to pay his forces and at the same time use the personification of piety on those coins.</p><p>Minting was brought indirectly under his control, because he was the one who appointed the Tres Viri Monetales, which he had increased to four members. In the minting workshops he used only slaves from his household who had his trust. Several of his coins now have his bust, up to then a royal prerogative. He put into circulation Aurei, that until now were minted in few quantities under Sulla and Pompeius.</p><p><br /></p><p>Under the Republic there never had been struck coins with a portrait of a living person, only of a deceased. The mint masters used it for glorification and honoring of their ancestors, but usually it was the head of Roma or of a god.</p><p>When Caesar now uses his portrait, it is a self-aggrandizement that reminds of Hellenistic and most of all of Alexander the Great coinage. However, it is to be noted that <u>on none of his portraits he is shown with a royal diadem or headdress</u>, not even on the coinage from the East that was issued with his portrait (BMC Nicea 8) in 48 and 47 BC. The dictator is shown with a wreath as used by a&nbsp; Triumphator.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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