National Mottos On Coins

National mottoes are aspirational; they express sentiments that the country's founding fathers, or some other government group at a pivotal moment in the country's history, thought were important. They are usually ascribed onto a country's coat of arms and/or flag, and thus make their way onto the coinage.

Australia does not currently have a national motto. The previous version of the coat of arms, current from 1908 to 1912, had the motto "Advance Australia"; this motto appeared on Australian silver coins until 1936, and continued on the sixpence up to 1964.

Mottos/phrases on coins have meaning. They are chosen to represent the country or ruler of issue, in a positive way of course, promoting national unity, etc. All the way back to the Greeks and Romans their coins described ruler or city, political position held, local deity worshiped. For example on late Roman bronze coins there's "Gloria Exercitus" the glory of the Roman army. When Rome won wars they added it too their coins like "Judaea Capta" Judaea Captive after they conquered the Jews. To the Romans it was a celebration of victory. To Rome's enemies maybe they thought it was political propaganda, a warning not to revolt.

In 1864 Congress voted to have "In God We Trust" on USA coins. It was during the horrible Civil War. Some likely would prefer it be removed, but IMO it won't be. In 1970 there was a court ruling saying the motto did not establish a religion, it was more a patriotic ceremonial phrase. There's info about it on the internet.

Here's an older CCF topic about mottos on coins:

http://goccf.com/t/227642