Breaking News: Edge Lettering Change & State Quarters Get 11th Year!
Friday December 21, 2007
Numismaster is reporting that a last-minute appropriations bill has been passed by both houses of Congress, and awaits only the president's signature to become law. HR-2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, is the main funding vehicle for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 (which began Oct. 1, 2007.) In the bill are two very important numismatic provisions:
I want to stress that although both houses have passed these two important provisions as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, the bill will not become law unless the president signs it. Sources tell me that this bill is extremely likely to be signed, which must occur by the 31st of December. I will update my main About.com Coins page as this breaking news story advances.
What do you think about these provisions? Do you think the territories deserve their own "Statehood" Quarters? Is moving In God We Trust back to the face of the coin a good idea? What should go on the edge to replace it, if anything? Please share your thoughts via the "comments" link below.
I would like to acknowledge the special research assistance and information provided to me by the staff of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s office, especially DeBorah Posey, and the bill's sponsor, Congresswoman Nita Lowey's office.
In God We Trust Will be Moved Off the Edge
The motto In God We Trust will be required by law to appear on either the obverse or the reverse of the Presidential Dollars "as soon as it is practicable." The reverse side makes the most sense to me because that is the "static" (non-changing) side of the coin. When further information is available about when this change will be implemented, I'll post an update to my site. The bill doesn't mention the new commemorative Sacagawea Dollars, which are due to join the edge lettering club in 2009 when they get their annually-changing Native American commemorative reverse types, but I think it's safe to assume that these coins, too, will be included in the motto placement change by the time they are minted.Statehood Quarters Program Adds 6 More Coins
The Statehood Quarters Program, which was due to expire at the end of 2008 with the release of the Hawaii coin, has been extended for an additional year to include six coins honoring the following territories and district:- District of Washington, D.C.
- Puerto Rico
- American Samoa
- The American Virgin Islands
- Guam
- The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
I want to stress that although both houses have passed these two important provisions as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, the bill will not become law unless the president signs it. Sources tell me that this bill is extremely likely to be signed, which must occur by the 31st of December. I will update my main About.com Coins page as this breaking news story advances.
What do you think about these provisions? Do you think the territories deserve their own "Statehood" Quarters? Is moving In God We Trust back to the face of the coin a good idea? What should go on the edge to replace it, if anything? Please share your thoughts via the "comments" link below.
I would like to acknowledge the special research assistance and information provided to me by the staff of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s office, especially DeBorah Posey, and the bill's sponsor, Congresswoman Nita Lowey's office.
Comments
“One Nation Under God” should fill the remainder of the incused rim. I think the US protectorates deserve recognition but not as part of the 50 Statehood quarter collection.
Did I miss something? When did guam,and DC become a state? NO ONLY STATES SHOULD HAVE “STATE QUATERS”.
I would like to see the edge blank.
The U.S.Mint is becoming the wal-mart of the gov. Creating more desings to sale. As for “In God We Trust” it should never have moved to the edge. Some say it is not on the coins. But they never look at the edge.Just the slot they drop the coin in.
THe edge lettering was a cute idea, but should be eleiminated. If In GOd We Trust is being moved, then all facets should be moved as well.
THe US Mint has been turned into a supply house for Ebay merchants. We do not need 6 coins for Non-states and then we have more dollar coins that no one actually uses. Enough already.
Let’s put the President’s order of elction, ie., “First President”, “Second President”, etc. Come on people, let’s honor our whole country, including the “territories” whose native people fight and stand with us to keep this great country free!
Don’t our legislators have better things to do with their time than micromanaging coin design? National health insurance, for example? Balancing the budget?
6 more designs for territories? why not? If you don’t like calling it the state quarter plan, call it something else. Either way, it just delays the return to the standard reverse by a year. I am a type collector, so as far as I am concerned, the more types the better.
adding these coins to the state quarter program is not the right way to commemorate our allies !!
This could have been accomplished by making commemorative medals for each .
I may have been interested in a couple of them had they been created in this fashion ,,as it is I have no interest in purchasing new folders just to accomodate these new additions .
Just another way for the religious right and our government to waste the tax payers money! So much for the Democrats’ promise to prevent and or stop ‘earmarks’.
Haven’t we wasted enough money already??
I cannot remember how many church functions I have been to explaining to people why edge engraving was a good change and how ‘In God we trust’ wound up on our money in the first place. I personally feel it is a violation of the seperation of church and state but such is life.
God givith. And God takith away!! It dosen’t matter to me where the motto ends up, as long as they don’t remove it. Which would take “another” act of congress to do.
As far as the state quarter program goes. Congress will do what they will do, regardless of what any of us think.
It’s still money, our money, the change can only be more interesting to new collectors and old alike.
I do agree with the poster that asked, if they had anything better to do?
last i looked , these places were not U.S. states ! they might as well do away with the whole program . it is only blending church & state anyhow ! this is ridiculous already !
Moving “In God We Trust” off the edge is the right thing to do. Obverse or reverse is fine with me.
But I don’t see anything about moving the Mint Marks. These should be with the date. It is very frustating to have to search the edge for the P/D/S.
As far as the State Quarters, the territories and District of Columbia should have their own designation (Territorial/DC Quarters?).
State Quarters are just that - State Quarters. We have 50 States and there can not, nor should there be more than 50 State Quarters.
Give the other six their own name.
If ¨In God We Trust¨ is moved to the face of the coin, ¨E Pluribus Unum¨ better be also. That was and is still the primary text representing our country. By then we might as well drop edge lettering entirely, but my preference is to keep it as-is.
I think as long as IN GOD WE TRUST is on the dollar it doesn’t matter where, But to put the extra 6 on statehood quarters is a bad idea. They are not states in the United states why give them the honor?
The coin program is evolving the same way that stamps did back in the 60s. Too many issues, too much junk. Eventually it will begin to lose collectors, not gain them. Remember that old adage; “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” And, no, the territories ought not to be lumped in with the states coins. I can’t wait for this never ending program to be over.
Leave “In God We Trust” on the face of the coin. I can’t believe that we would even consider making 6 more statehood quarters!! What the hell are these people thinking?? I guess if they make those and call them statehood quarters then we will have to change all the dictionary’s, encyclopaedia’s,ect so that people will know what we are up to. Looks like the US Mint is becoming just like the UP Post Office, you could do all your Christmas shopping in there now, looks like a giant yard sale. I’m disgusted to think our politicans seem to have nothing better to do then design coins. Wonder if they would make a coin with a picture of my dog on it…oh I don’t have a dog.. sorry!!
I think we are missing the point entirely.
1. We have states in our union that are commonwealth’s. And one republic.
But i’m sure our reps. have this coverd.
And i’m “sure” They will be a special minting.
Now … What about the value of the very first coins with the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST incused on the rim? Will there value go up if the motto is moved??
I been kicking that thought around since i first read this news.
Can any one hazzard a guess?
Thanks!
Today is the 31’srt, so far, no news about the change. Or if the prez signed it into law. We have till mid nite to find out.
I’m again hearing grumbling from all those people who want the “God” reference removed from coins citing separation in the constitution. Actually they should probably read the constitution which actually says the Gov’t should aid the practice of religion. Amazing how many people yell tolerance and haven’t figured out their tolerance only applies to those who agree with them. Given the Lakota Tribe’s recent secession from the U.S., I suppose E Pluribus Unum will have to go next. I personally like the lettering just where it is, but I’ll concede and support to those who want the God reference on the reverse. Obverse mottoes will be a nightmare. Nix the territories thing, iIt will likely just offend someone and cause lawsuits for whatever insane reason. I like to see congress taking numismatists into account but too many variations put a damper on things. If they really want to take us into account, how about some genuinely beautiful coin designs likethe Morgan and St. Gaudens? Oh, and let me apologize for living to anyone I offended by having opinions of my own.
Frank: You say anything you want. You don’t offend me.
This is still Amerika … I think!
Coiny
Anyone who wants to get themselves all knotted up about “In God We Trust” should have bothered to have an opinion BEFORE the coin design was finalized rather than ignoring the whole thing until the coins are in circulation and then whining about it and costing so much time and money to have it changed.
“Syruss”:
Given that US coins and currency did not initially have the motto, it was precisely whining and the costs (in taxpayer money) that got the motto put on there in the first place. Shouldn’t you first direct your rebuke at their actions?
In this case, the issue was never about whether to keep the motto, but where to move it.
if the 5 territories now use u s money why not
have their on quarter,plus move in god we trust to the reverse side of coinage
Why did we mint “State Quarters” for commonwealths like “Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia” if they are not officially States. Because they are a part of this union. Americans that are born and rised in the other 6 commonwealths should be afforded the opportunity to display their pride in their currency.
UH! CARLOS, KY IS AN OFFICIAL UNITED STATE IT WAS ENTERED INTO STATEHOOD IN 1792 AS THE 15TH STATE IN THE UNION! GO BACK TO AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS!