Upon the death of Alexander III, his closest advisors and generals divided up his territory. These men were known as the Diadochi, or successors. There was Ptolemy, Antigonus, Cassander and Seleucus. Ptolemy oversaw the area of Egypt. Of the successors Ptolemy was likely the most important to Alexander III. He was one of Alexander's most trusted advisors and generals, a role that was difficult to achieve. As Alexander was being transported back to Macedonia for burial, Ptolemy hijacked his body and brought him instead to Egypt. Custom in Macedonia was for a successor to bury the previous king. Perdiccas, who served as regent to Alexander's mentally disabled half brother, Philip Arridaeus, likely wanted to insure his later position by burying Alexander in Macedonia. 

The very early coins of the Diadochi mirror the coins of Alexander III with the exception of the legends. The change eventually occurred when those rulers coined in their own desired imagery but the beginning was likely a gradual and important change that would keep the population comfortable.