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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,868 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Experts: I wanted to know what was the first coin and bank note to feature this motto. What year it was and what type. I noticed that Indian cents don't have the motto, whereas coins of the same years do have it. Was there a legislation passed that forced this motto onto coins where they weren't before? Thanks in advance!  |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The motto first appeared on the 1864 Two Cent. It was inspired by the religious fervor which accompanied the Civil War. A letter from a minister in Pennsylvania dated Nov. 13, 1861, to Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury, read: Quote:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.
One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.
You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.
To you first I address a subject that must be agitated. One week later, Secretary Chase wrote this to the Director of the Mint: Quote:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. New designs were being created at this time, and the new motto was incorporated into them. It being the duty of Congress to specify coinage, an Act of Congress was required to authorize new designs and denominations; this was accomplished with the Act of April 22, 1864 for the new Cent composition and Two Cent denomination. The further Act of March 3, 1865 authorized the motto for all US coinage, if possible. The motto did not appear on the first Five Cent coins, nor the Eagle and Double Eagles of 1907 onward. Congress ordered it restored with the Act of May 18, 1908, on all coins where it had previously appeared (therefore not required for the Cent and Nickel), and made it optional - subject to approval by the Secretary of the Treasury - on all others. It was not until the Jefferson nickel of 1938 that all US coinage bore the motto, as it has since. The first paper currency to bear the motto was the $1 Silver Certificate of 1957. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
1 cent: 1909 LWC2 cent: 1864 2 cent 3 cent: NA 5 cent: 1866 Shield nickel Half Dime: NA 10 cent: 1916 Mercury dime20 cent: NA 25 cent: 1866 Seated quarter50 cent: 1866 seated half $1(silver): 1866 Seated dollar$1 (gold): NA $2.5: 1908 Indian head $3: NA $4: NA $5: 1866 liberty head $10: 1866 liberty head $20: 1877 liberty head st Gaudens $20: 1908 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
 .....Ditto, Dave...... |
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Valued Member
Philippines
386 Posts |
No wonder America is blessed with so many Great things. How I wish our country will also follow the same track to avoid corruption at the very least. Thanks for the beautiful and interesting share  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1042 Posts |
30+ years ago...I hated history classes. Thanks SuperDave Just goes to show that one is never too old to learn something new. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
It's a rich piece of history, part and parcel of the country I'm proud to call my own. Not in small part because even with Christianity so important as to be part of our coinage, I am free to practice my own non-Christian faith without fear of repercussion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
Very nice SuperDave!
As I read the letter that was penned to the Secretary of the Treasury, I felt like I was looking over the minister's shoulder as he wrote it. That's one thing I truly admire about our wonderful hobby is how easy it is to trigger the imagination as you ponder the history.
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Valued Member
United States
73 Posts |
So, what is it about your question that makes it 'Pertinent'?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
So, what is it about your question that makes it 'Pertinent'? I don't see a single thing about the question which makes it "impertinent." I, myself, dragged the thread off-topic with my last reply; prior to that it was a relevant question and appropriate responses to a topic concerning "Classic US coinage." |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
3692 Posts |
Well, I'm a curious person, to say the least, that's why it's pertinent. To have religion on money is evil in any form. I was just watching John Carpenter's "They Live" and also an old bio-flick of Abraham Lincoln and the "Civil" War. So between that, and living in a capitalist society, I would say it's extremely pertinent.
Oh, thank you Dave, for such great and hasty info! I had a feeling it was around the time of the "Civil" War.
Edited by Libertad
07/12/2010 08:23 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
There's an 1863 Civil War token having the reverse legend "GOD PROTECT THE UNION." It's a relatively common variety and a great addition for those who collect the so-called "evil" forms of money. This token foreshadowed God's Two Cents ... healing needed, then and now. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The motto did appear on the paper money earlier than what was mentioned by Superdave, but not as a mandated inscription. The first appearance was the $5 silver certificate for 1886 which shows on the back five Morgan dollars. Four of them show the reverse and the motto IGWT is clearly visible. There was another early use where the motto was part of a depicted scene and not a mandated appearance but I can't recall the details at the moment. The first silver certificate to bear the mandated IGWT was NOT the Series 1957 $1, it was the 1935 G series. When the legislation was passed in 1955 to include the motto they were still printing the 1935 G series notes. The motto was to have appeared on the 1935 H but some of the sheets printed with the new back plates were mistakenly muled with the 1935 G front plates. Enough were printed that the 35 G with motto is not priced significantly different than the no motto variety. The first Federal Reserve note to carry the motto was the 1963 series $1. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1213 Posts |
Good info, Dave. I'm glad I joined the community.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
531 Posts |
Good info from Dave above. The Motto was originally suggested to be either Our God, Our Trust or God Our Trust. Treasury Secretary Chase requested that the motto of God Our Trust be changed to In God We Trust.
You can look for pics of the patterns that were struck that have been identified as Judd 305, 306, 308, 312, and 312a. These patterns were produced in a variety of metals and designs. The bronze Judd 312 and 312a most closely resemble the design implemented in 1864.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,868 |
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Posted 07/11/2010 11:40 am
