Recently I acquired a few new dollar coins, the ones with the President profile on the front. I like them, they have a bit of the British pound/ Euro coin feel to them with the normal inscriptions that appear on the face being moved to the side. But for a batch of coins minted on February 15th, progress was made, albeit the Mint noticed after a series of websites claimed a conspiracy was afoot.
The inscription of "In god we Trust" was missing on the side of the newly minted coins. Shucks, the one's that I got had it on the side. 300 Million coins made it out of the mint, and now each of them is fetching upwards of 50$ a piece.
The first use of the term "In god we Trust" appeared on bills in 1964, while the Mint argues that the motto was in use way before this time (I believe this is an issue for those who support the separation of Church and State, why would the Mint take a position on this?) According to their fact sheet, the use of the term was left to the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury and that he/she can choose to use or remove the motto. It was not until an act of congress in 1908 where it became mandatory (the mint argues that this was due to a "national demand" - A petition from 11 protestant religious groups, not representative of all other religions in the country at the time).
I'm personally for the term " E Pluribus Unum" - One from Many. With all of the various races, religions, cultures, issues, etc.. we all have to deal with, we are all Americans.
Teddy Roosevelt felt strongly against the use of the term "In god we Trust," he stated in a letter to a Mr. William Bodly:
"My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."
With recent court decisions calling the term "secular" and simply "patriotic and ceremonial in nature" the words of Teddy Roosevelt seem to have been followed by the courts. If God is such a revered figure among those in religious faiths, why cheapen his/her name by placing it on a coin or dollar bill. Just a thought.
If anyone has a misprint Dollar coin that they would like to donate, e-mail me or leave a comment. You'll get a mention in the next post(s) about the topic.
