One Dollar Coin Without In God We Trust
One of the most iconic phrases in American history is “In God We Trust”. It is inscribed on every single United States coin and bill, except for one. The one dollar coin without “In God We Trust” has an interesting story behind it.
History of “In God We Trust”
The phrase “In God We Trust” first appeared on United States coins in 1864. It was during the Civil War, and Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase wanted to acknowledge the nation’s dependence on God during this difficult time. The phrase was added to all United States coins starting in 1938, and it has remained there ever since.
The Susan B. Anthony Dollar
In 1979, the United States Mint released the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. This coin was the first United States coin to feature a woman on it. However, many people were surprised to see that the coin did not have “In God We Trust” inscribed on it. Instead, the coin had the dates “1979” and “1980”, as well as the words “Liberty” and “United States of America”.
Controversy and Backlash
The omission of “In God We Trust” on the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin caused a lot of controversy and backlash. Many people were outraged that the phrase was not included, and some even refused to use the coin. The United States Mint received thousands of complaints about the missing phrase.
The Reason for the Omission
So why was “In God We Trust” not included on the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin? The reason was actually quite simple. The coin was designed to be small and simple, with a focus on the image of Susan B. Anthony. There was simply not enough room to include the phrase without making the coin look cluttered.
Reintroduction of the Phrase
Due to the controversy and backlash, the United States Mint decided to reintroduce “In God We Trust” on the dollar coin. Starting in 1981, the coin had the phrase inscribed on it once again. Since then, all United States coins and bills have included the phrase.
The Future of “In God We Trust”
Despite some calls to remove “In God We Trust” from United States coins and bills, it seems to be here to stay for the foreseeable future. The phrase has become an important part of American history and culture, and it is unlikely that it will be removed anytime soon.
Conclusion
The one dollar coin without “In God We Trust” is a unique piece of American history. While it caused controversy and backlash when it was first released, it ultimately led to the reintroduction of the phrase on the dollar coin. Today, “In God We Trust” remains an important part of American culture and identity.