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Presidential Dollar "In God We Trust" Motto Controversy Resolved

In 2007, the United States Mint debuted a new series of circulating commemorative dollar coins honoring the former presidents. The golden colored dollar coins would feature rotating obverse designs with four new releases each year. The series was intended to begin a revitalization of United States coinage design which would return it to its position of aesthetic beauty. Instead, the public focused on the apparent omission of the motto "In God We Trust." After much controversy, next year the issue will finally be put to rest.

The controversy about the Presidential Dollars was a result of the special incused edge lettering used on the coins. In order to provide a larger area for a more dramatic design, certain elements which were traditionally placed on the surfaces of coin were moved to the edges. This included the date, the mint mark, and the two standard mottoes which appear on all circulating US coinage "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum."

Translated from Latin, the motto "E Pluribus Unum" means "Out of Many, One." This refers to the fact that many states combined to form a single nation. This motto first appear on United States coinage in 1795 and became a mandatory inscription in 1873. The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on US coinage in 1864. Since 1938, all US coins have included the inscription. It has been the official motto of the United States since 1956.

Shortly after the release of the Presidential Dollar series, there was public controversy about the apparent omission of the "In God We Trust" motto. Some widely circulated chain emails and articles stated that the motto had been removed as an attempt to "phase God out of America." The same emails called for a boycott of the new coins. While the claim was completely untrue, at first glance, many people did not detect the motto and rallied behind the cause. Others who had knowledge of the motto's appearance on the edge of the coin, felt that the motto had been demoted.

Adding to the controversy, a number of error coins were produced without edge lettering. This occurred when a certain number of coins did not reach the second step of the two step minting process which applied the edge lettering. Even though by all accounts the error was inadvertent, many claimed that the US Mint had intentionally created "Godless" dollar coins.

Possibly in response to such concerns, on December 26, 2007, President Bush signed into law H.R. 2764, which required that the motto "In God We Trust" be moved to the obverse or reverse of Presidential Dollars as soon as practicable. Since it was too late to make any changes to the 2008 Presidential Dollar releases, the US Mint stated that they would comply with the new law starting in 2009.

Recently the United States Mint unveiled the designs for the upcoming 2009 Presidential Dollars. The first release honoring William Henry Harrison will feature the new motto placement. "In God We Trust" has been moved to the obverse of the coin, along the lower rim. The coin should be released during the first quarter of 2009.

After two years, the controversy of the "missing" motto will finally be put to rest. Edge lettering will still be used on Presidential Dollars, but will only contain the date, mint mark, and motto "E Pluribus Unum."

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