George Washington Dollar Coin Without In God We Trust
George Washington, the first President of the United States, is honored on the dollar coin. The coin was first introduced in 2007 and has been issued every year since. However, some coins do not have "In God We Trust" inscribed on them. This has caused controversy among some Americans who believe that the motto should be present on all U.S. currency.
The Controversy
The phrase "In God We Trust" was first used on U.S. currency in 1864 during the Civil War. It was intended to express the country's religious sentiment during a time of national crisis. The motto was later adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956.
However, some Americans believe that the phrase violates the separation of church and state, as outlined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They argue that the government should not promote or favor any particular religion.
As a result, some U.S. coins, including the George Washington dollar coin, do not have the motto inscribed on them. Instead, they bear the image of George Washington on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse.
The Design
The George Washington dollar coin was designed by Don Everhart and features a portrait of George Washington on the obverse. The reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings and the inscriptions "United States of America" and "$1."
The coin is made of a manganese-brass alloy and is similar in size and weight to the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. It has a smooth edge and is not reeded like other U.S. coins.
The Value
The George Washington dollar coin is worth one dollar. However, the coins without the "In God We Trust" motto may be worth more to collectors due to their rarity.
According to the United States Mint, approximately 200 million George Washington dollar coins were minted without the motto between 2007 and 2016.
The Future
It is unclear whether the George Washington dollar coin will continue to be minted in the future. The U.S. Mint has not released any plans to issue new coins beyond 2016.
However, the controversy over the "In God We Trust" motto is likely to continue. Some Americans will continue to argue that the motto should be present on all U.S. currency, while others will argue that it violates the separation of church and state.
Conclusion
The George Washington dollar coin without the "In God We Trust" motto has caused controversy among some Americans. While some believe that the motto should be present on all U.S. currency, others argue that it violates the separation of church and state. Regardless of the controversy, the coin remains a valuable and unique piece of American history.