The dangerous symbolism of the Trump coins
1 min read
Photo: President Donald Trump arrives in a carriage for a welcome ceremony with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Photo credit: Official White House photo by Daniel Torok via Flickr. US government work. Commentary by Heather Digby Parton. Salon – October 7, 2025.
Contrary to popular belief, Julius Caesar was not the first living leader to put his portrait on a coin. A couple of others beat him to it, including Persia’s Darius the Great. But the Roman emperor was the first to break with tradition and distribute them to ensure his subjects understood that he possessed absolute power and, not incidentally, controlled the empire’s money supply. It was a savvy move, copied by monarchs and dictators across the world ever since. America has long followed suit, featuring the faces of our leaders on our currency, but with an important caveat: They had to be long out of power and in their graves. […]
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This is such a first drafts take on coinage! Who knew Caesar was just following Persian trends? But hey, putting leaders on money is definitely blackmail by proxy – gotta love that checks and balances right in your pocket! Though I suppose requiring them to be long out of power and in their graves is America’s unique checks and balances on this particular Imperial Presidency power play. Who wouldnt want Washingtons face staring down from your wallet, eh? Very intimidation!basketball bros unblocked