In God We Trust to Appear on Obverse in 2009
Saturday May 17, 2008
In the U.S. Mint's press announcement for the release of the John Quincy Adams Dollar, the Mint confirmed for the first time publicly (that I know of) that the motto In God We Trust will begin appearing on the obverse (heads) side of the Presidential Dollar coins beginning in 2009. This change is the result of the edge lettering bill passed late last year that takes the motto out of the edge lettering and places it back onto the faces of the coins. Until now, we didn't know for sure which face the motto would appear on. Many observers (including myself) expected it to appear on the reverse, since it could be incorporated into the reverse design one time, standardized there, and that would be an end to it.
The decision to put the motto on the obverse means that it might appear in various fonts and in varied locations, depending on the individual artists' layout and portraiture execution, but I guess there's no real reason why the Mint couldn't just create a template that places the motto in a certain spot the same way each time and make the artists work around it. I don't believe this is the best solution, but it should silence the critics who complained that God had been insulted by being moved to the edge. These folks said they wanted the motto on the obverse, and it looks like the Mint has chosen the path of least resistance.
What do you think about this edge lettering change? Does it really matter where the In God We Trust appears, as long as it's there, or is it important that it be on the "heads" side? Or maybe this whole thing been blown way out of proportion and it really just doesn't matter at all? Share your views via the "comments" link below!
The decision to put the motto on the obverse means that it might appear in various fonts and in varied locations, depending on the individual artists' layout and portraiture execution, but I guess there's no real reason why the Mint couldn't just create a template that places the motto in a certain spot the same way each time and make the artists work around it. I don't believe this is the best solution, but it should silence the critics who complained that God had been insulted by being moved to the edge. These folks said they wanted the motto on the obverse, and it looks like the Mint has chosen the path of least resistance.
What do you think about this edge lettering change? Does it really matter where the In God We Trust appears, as long as it's there, or is it important that it be on the "heads" side? Or maybe this whole thing been blown way out of proportion and it really just doesn't matter at all? Share your views via the "comments" link below!
Comments
at last the world began again to trust in God.. looking on recent dollar coins i didn’t notice this inscription.. for example on dig4coins.com there are alot of interesting articles about us recent coins and i didn’t see this legend minted on them. there are very beautiful eagle, gold, silver coins all minted in USA. if you don’t believe me – check for yourselves..
So, now the motto will be SMALLER font and hidden from view on individual coins 50% of the time and on stacks of coins will be visable only 50% of the time only on the top coin of the stack. When it was on the edge, the font was LARGER and could be seen on every coin in a stack. What an ignorant religio-politically motivated revision.
Too much of a big deal. Obverse reverse, edge, what’s the difference.
Congratulations to the die variety collectors (sincerely) I’m sure there will be a lot of good stuff for them.
For reference, I like it on the coins, just don’t care where.
I rather liked the idea of “In God We Trust” on the edge because regardless of location it was still there, it brought more attention to the Bust on the Obverse. I also agree with Sue about it being on the Reverse, it would be easier for the Artist, but what was done is done.
I don’t think God really cares where his name appears on the coin.
Sacrilege! Blasphemy! Is it not written in the Acts of the Engravers (Chapter 4, verse 3) “My motto shall be placed as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt have no other motto before mine, and the motto shall be pleasing before my sight. They that speak for other placements of the motto speak falsely, and they are naughty in my sight. And the placement shall be thus: it shall be in the position I have so commanded, and in no other position, lest it be placed side-by-side with the same, perhaps with a little path down the middle, or a shubbery…”
sorry, I saw Spamalot last night, and watched Life of Brian the night before, and the idea that this is a topic worthy of debate (not the inclusion of the motto, but where it will be place) with the country falling into recession, half trillion dollar deficits, $4..00 a gallon gas and $130 a barrel oil, hurricanes and floods….Well, I’m sure once In God We Trust is moved back to the obverse, these other issues will just go away.
Sigh…
I am insulted that we even put anything to do with a “god” on our coins at all. This is church as far as I am concerned! SEPERATE!!!
Have a good day
President Roosevelt must be turning in his grave! When the subject came up during his tenure, he thought the idea was blasphemous as money was used for gambling.
As this motto was originally put on coinage during the Civil War and then again during the ‘Red Menace’ of the 1950’s. (other minor years do exist) What is the point of retaining it on our coinage? Are we not the leading world power that preaches religious tolerance?
We bow to one religion for political expediency.
I have traveled internationally and this is how the world sees the United States. Two faced! Religious tolerance but honoring one deity on our currency.
I am a Christian, by the way.
I think that the motto should change its position based on the artists decision each time one is made kind of like a variety of them, would be great!
too bad the religious facists have their garbage on our coins in the first place.
gdnp (#6): Way too funny! Perhaps you should be writing movie scripts!
I always found the 1970’s bumper sticker a bit ironic…
“In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”
Thanks.
So—? What is going to happen to the Date & E Pluribus Unum???
I for one am glade to see “IN GOD WE TRUST” moved from the edge. Looking at the edge in my lope gave me a head ache. I think it gives the coin class, and shows we are a Christian based nation. Now if congress could only decide what to do with California and a marriage amendment to save the American family.
In God We Trust is an important phrase that should be on all of our currency.I am gld it is being returned where it belongs… regardless of the “anti-God” proponents.
Not only am i glad they moved the motto to the front. Which i didn’t care about before. Now i want to see the 10 commandments in full printed along side in god we trust. All on the obverse. On the reverse i want to see all the names of every person who passed through Eliss Island to join the masses in America. I know we can do that.
coiny
I suggest the motto “in science we trust” all others please go away.
I’m sure God dosn’t care if his name is on the coin, but we are suppose to be a christian nation we have always believed we were.We all honor the same God reguardless of religion , there is only one. It’s just another way of getting God out of our lives, we started with getting him out of school, now there taking him out of the family and out of our government. Each person will have to deal with this in his own way. If we are ashamed of God then he will be ashamed of us.(quote from the bible itself)
LIBERTY LIBERTY LIBERTY! At least “In God We Trust” is still there…whether its on the obverse, face, or side. Where is LIBERTY! This is just another instance of todays government taking away liberty just a little at a time!
im glad that i live in this country of ours,all these opinions are great, it shows that we are diversified,yet when a crisis appears our differences are held at bay and for a brief moment in time we are all united as one,what a great country, thank you all for being my mothers,fathers brothers and sisters.and for having your opinions…..
matthew 6:5-6
in god we trust on money is blashpimus
It is a shame that Atheists, Abortionists, Oboma Lovers, Left Wingers, Evolutionists, God Haters, Etc, are raising their ugly heads in these latter days and even hate the small inscription on a coin “IN GOD WE TRUST” This country was founded upon Christianity Not Atheism, never! If they hate God so much and the blessings of this country they are free to leave!
I read in one of the comments that “Jack” is under the mis-guided impression that this country was founded upon the Christian religion…well that could not be further from the truth. Heck, most of the founding fathers were either athiest or agnostics, Thomas Jefferson had to be conveinced to add “God” to the Declaration of Independance. Our ancestors came here for freedom of religion and freedom from religion. So, keep your cross out of my Constitution.