Words of Faith: "In God We Trust" as a Coinage Tradition

When we talk about coins, we usually picture the shine of the metal, the sleek design and the logical arrangement of symbols on the obverse and reverse of the coin. However, some of the seemingly familiar design details carry great cultural and historical significance.

When you hold a U.S. coin in your hand, your attention may be drawn to the short but profound motto: “In God We Trust”. Today it can be seen on most U.S. coins and banknotes, and we take it for granted. But why do coins say in God We Trust? This laconic wording with the long history was used not just as a coin decoration, but as a reflection of a nation's spirit, faith, politics, and even ideology.

The appearance of the motto on money is the result of a long historical journey, full of crises and social transformations. Then you may have logical questions: “How and why did ingodwetrust coins appear?”, '“Are coins without in God We Trust motto special?” and “What is the role and meaning of the motto today?”. So let us consider the topic in detail.

Roots of Faith and History: The Emergence of the Motto

As you might guess, the wording in God We Trust on coins did not appear immediately. The phrase “in God We Trust” became the official national motto of the United States in 1956, replacing the previous motto “E Pluribus Unum”.

Reasons for introducing the motto:

• Inspirational support: In the midst of war, the nation needed a religious symbol to strengthen faith and hope.

• Uniting the nation: The motto emphasized common values and helped to unite the country in the face of common challenges.

• Religious component: Why and when was in God We Trust put on coins like Zachary Taylor One Dollar Coin? The first ideas for minting coins with the motto came from Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase. Eventually, the minting of coins with religious design elements was approved to emphasize the role and power of the heavenly patron and to increase the unity of the nation. Thus the first coin to have in God We Trust was minted in 1864.

The phrase in God We Trust was not chosen by chance. It refers to the text of one verse of the U.S. national anthem. This idea was transformed into a short and expressive motto, which later decorated American coins.

First in God We Trust Coins: An Important Event in Numismatics

Of course, the popular and now familiar phrase did not appear on all coins at once. The first coin with in God We Trust motto was the 1864 two-cent piece. This copper coin was issued at the peak of the Civil War, when the country needed moral support, a symbol of faith and hope in hard times.

It is worth noting that the two-cent piece wasn't the most popular coin, but it is the first to bear this important inscription, making it historically significant to numismatists.

Here are some characteristics of the 1864 two-cent piece:

This issue of in God We Trust moneda was the first step in introducing a religious motto on coins. Due to its symbolism and originality, this two-cent piece quickly gained recognition and popularity among the public. Soon the motto was added to other denominations.

Promotion of the Motto: from Copper to Gold

After the success of the 1864 two-cent piece, the motto “In God We Trust” began to gradually appear on other denominations. In 1866, it appeared on the $10 (Liberty Head Eagle) and $20 (Liberty Head Double Eagle) gold coins. But the motto was introduced on nickels (five-cent coins) only after 1938 with the release of a coin featuring Thomas Jefferson.

An interesting fact is that even after the Civil War, the use of the motto was not mandatory. Its presence on coins depended on the design and decision of the mint, as well as on ideas approved by the Ministry of Finance.

Over the next decades, the motto “In God We Trust” gradually expanded its presence on American coins. By the mid-20th century, the phrase was finally established as an integral part of American numismatics.

Without Divine Protection: “In God We Trust” Removed from Coins

Despite the general acceptance of the motto, there were coins in U.S. history that either temporarily omitted the inscription “In God We Trust” or did not include it in the design at all.

In the table below, you will find examples of some famous US coins without a motto:

Public Opinion and Modern Use of the Motto

Over the years, “In God We Trust” came under various interpretations. In times of crisis and war, it has become a symbol of national unity and moral support.

However, in the post-war years there was also a debate about whether it was appropriate to use a religious motto in a country where religious freedom was to be respected. Nevertheless, in 1956 the U.S. Congress adopted the motto “In God We Trust” as the official national motto of the country, finally fixing it on money and in state symbols.

Today, the motto “In God We Trust” can be seen on all modern U.S. coins and banknotes. Its absence is extremely rare, usually on commemorative or collector issues (only if designers decide to emphasize other symbols or artistic elements). However, such coins without a motto become objects of increased interest to numismatists.

The Power of the Word and Symbol of Faith

“In God We Trust” is more than just a motto on a coin. The wording highlights the history, faith, and national identity of the United States. This simple phrase survived through wars, controversy, and decades of change but it is still placed on coins and bills as a silent witness to the nation's fight and hope.

And if you want to learn more about rare coins, their designs, and unique or common examples with and without the motto “In God We Trust,” be sure to use the Coin ID Scanner app to identify coins by picture online​. Due to the app you will be able to easily recognize rare issues, distinguish fakes from originals, and even estimate the value of coins that capture the spirit of American history.

Sources:

1.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

2.  https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/37143

3.  https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2296.html