As many collectors of United States ("US") coins know, the inscritption/motto "In God We Trust" ("IGWT") did not always appear on the nation's coins. In fact, the inscription did not appear in circulation until 1864, when it was included on the Two-Cent coin in response to the Coinage Act of 1864.
The 1864 Act changed the composition of the cent (from 88% copper/12% nickel to 95% copper/5% tin and zinc) and authorized a new two-cent coin (95% copper/5% tin and zinc). It specified that the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Mint were to fix "the shape, mottoes, and devices" of these coins. This discretionary provision enabled the inclusion of the inscription "In God We Trust" to be placed on the 1864 two-cent coin - the first US coin to include the motto/inscription.
The motto was added to other
US coins beginning in 1866 and was codified via the provisions of the Coinage Act of 1873.
When new Augustus St. Gaudens designs appeared on the 1907 Double Eagle ($20), the IGWT motto was dropped. This generated an immediate reaction.
In December 1907, during the 60th Congress, Ollie Murray James (D-KY) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives ("House") that called for the restoration of the inscription "In God we trust" on "all coins of the United States of America."
Upon its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The Committee was the final stop on James' proposed legislation's journey, however.
Simlar bills were also introduced by Representatives Joseph Grant Beale (R-PA), William Albert Ashbrook (D-OH), Ira Wells Wood (R-NJ), James McKinney (R-IL), Martin David Foster (D-IL) and William Brown McKinley (R-IL). McKinley's bill was charmed, being passed by the House and Senate, then signed into law by US President Theodore Roosevelt on May 18, 1908.
The Public Law stated:
"That the motto "In God we trust," heretofore inscribed on certain denominations of the gold and silver coins of the United States of America, shall hereafter be inscribed upon all such gold and silver coins of said denominations as heretofore."The reverse design of St. Gaudens Gold $20 coin was modified to include the IGWT motto in 1908.
The IGWT motto has appeared on all gold and silver coins struck since July 1, 1908, and has continued to be included on the Copper-Nickel ("CuNi") Clad versions of the coins since silver was removed. .
Note: The dime was excepted due to its small size.ICYWW: In 1907, regarding other then-current circulating
US coins, the IGWT inscription did not appear on the
Indian Head cent, the Liberty Head Five Cent, the
Barber dime or the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle.
On July 11, 1955, the requirement for all
US coins to include the "In God We Trust" motto became law with US President Dwight David Eisenhower's signature (Public Law 84-140).
For other of my posts about coins and medals, including more US classic-era coin stories, see:
Commems Collection
Posted 05/11/2026 6:51 pm
