Cleopatra VII was the last, and most celebrated, of the Ptolemaic royalty. Her forefathers were Greek and Ptolemy I, nicknamed "Savior" was the only of the successors that was actually related to the House of Macedon. When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, his empire was divided and Ptolemy assumed control of the Egyptian empire. He maintained the coinage of Alexander but eventually started to embrace the Egyptian lifestyle and reflected this in his coinage. Much of the Ptolemaic coinage shows mainstays like eagles with a simple portrait of the King or Queen. Sometimes both, in the case of Ptolemy I, II, Berenike and Arsinoe. The coinage of Cleopatra VII is generally scarce in varieties. The only silver coins that really exists of her are with Mark Antony, her last and most likely strongest bond. One hears often of Cleopatra's ugly features; her hook nose and unsympathetic face. The reality is more likely that she impressed those around her. Plutarch said that she had "irresistible charm". The saying that beauty does not run skin deep most assuredly rings true with Cleopatra. Women of today often find respect for other strong women and rarely talk only of their outer beauty. We must also never forget that history was written by men and for men. Despite much of the negative writings surrounding Cleopatra, what is clear is that she was an amazing individual that faced mounting adversity.