The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-01
TRUST" TRIED FIRST
COINS WITH THIS MOTTO STRUCK
IN 1861.

motto -In God We Trust" was a pattern
two cen piece struck at the Philadelphia
mint in 1853, but pattern coins bearing
a variation Of the motto we're struck az
early as 1894. The first regular United
states coins TO bear the motto were issued
for general circulation in 1854.
The story goes that a Maryland clergy
man suggested to a former Director Of the
Mint tina a motto of this character be
placed on the United States coins. The
Director. IL is supposed. turned the sug-
gestion over to the ~engravers. and they
used it on certain patterns.
The first Of the 1881 series Of pattern coins
bearing a pious motto was the hall dollar,
which was OF the same design as the regular
half dollar OF the period, but showed on a
scroll above the eagle on the reverse God
Our Trust" 1t was the first United States
coin to bear a motto other than "E Pluribus
Unum." This variety was struck in silver.
copper and copper bronze.
The second coin was a ten dollar piece,
which showed the motto above the eagle
on a scroll. az on the fifty cent piece. The
third variety. another ten dollar piece. had
the same motto above the eagle, but with
the scroll omitted.
Both varieties of the ten dollar patterns
were struck in gold. copper and copper
bronze. Those struck in gold are unique.
and there is no record Of either ever having
been offered for sale.
In 1852 pattern coins of the denominations
Of 50 cents and $40 with the motto God
Our Trust" were struck at the mint, the
designs being similar TO those of 1891. but
showing the new date. They were struck
in silver. copper and copper bronze.
Several varieties Of the pattern bronze
two cent piece were made at the mint in
1888. These were issued 10 provide sam
pies from which might be selected a coin
Of this denomination. which had never be-
fore been included among the United States
current coins.
One of these patterns bore a broad shield
behind which were two arrows crossed,
while suspended above the shield was a
thick wreath Of laurel hanging down on
either side. Above this wreath On a scroll
was the motto God Our Trust" and below
was the date, 1883"
On the reverse was the value, 80 Cents"
enclosed by a wreath. This variety was
struck in copper, nickel and aluminium on
thin and thick planchets.
There was still another variety of the
pattern two cent piece Of this year similar
TO the regular two cent piece hat went
into circulation in the following year. This
coin showed On a scroll above the wreath
the full motto -In God We Trust" and was
the first United States coin SO inscribed.
IL was struck only in copper.
Among the other pattern two cent pieces
produced during this year was one variety
showing on the diverse the bust Of Wash
ington surrounded by the motto God and
Our Country The reverse Of this pattern
bore a wreath composed Of eight heads OF
wheat secured with a plain hand, - Cents
within and United States Of America" in
the border. The pattern piece was struck
In copper, nickel and aluminium.
In the same year and bearing the date
1881 were varieties Of the half dollar and
eagle with the motto God Our Trust"
This was the only way in which they diff
fered from the coins Of these denomina-
tons Of the regular issue.
The first dollar pattern coin struck in
silver to bear the motto an God We
Trust was issued in 1855. The dollar of
regular issue did not show it until 1885.
This is one of the rRrest Of the pattern pieces
Of the series, and a proof specimen brought
SCI his year at a coin sale.
In 1884 the new two cent piece vent into
circulation and was the first and at the
time the only coin in general circulation TO
bear the motto I'm God We Trust"
A pattern quarter dollar was issued at
the mint in 1885 which bore the regular
Design OF the year. but the reverse showed
above the eagle on a scroll the motto -In
God We Trust" This reverse die was
adopted the following year 1888, when the
quarter nth the motto made its bow.
The pattern quarter Of 1855 was struck
both in silver and copper.
= A half dollar pattern Of 1885 also showed
the same design as the regular issue but
with the addition Of the motto. IL was
struck ia silver. copper and aluminium.
Following it came other denominations
OF the current coinage-the silver dollar.
quarter eagle. half eagle. eagle and double
eagle patterns. each of which showed the
motto. Every one Of these patterns was
similar to the regular coins, with the single
exception Of the presence Of the motto.
They we're struck in gold. silver, copper
and aluminium. and some Of them are now
extremely rare. the silver dollar pattern
particularly so.
A rare five cent pattern piece bearing the
motto "In God We Trust" dated 1855, the
year before the denomination was issued
TOT CiTCuAhJAOHs HnOWH lilt SAME ueNlRn as
the nickel adopted in 1887, which was the
second issue of the nickel five cent piece.
The first regular issue of 1890 showed rays
surrounding the figure IS" between the
stars. but the 1887 type omitted these
y A proof specimen Of this rarity. of
which few are known. brought Ss.25 at a
sale a good many years ago.
In 1896 there we're many pattern and trial
pieces OF the denomination of five cents.
quarter, half dollar, dollar. quarter eagle,
half eagle, Gag 10 and double eagle struck az
the mint In nickel and copper bearing the
motto "IB God We Trust" They were
struck apparently from the same dies
that were used 10 stFike all these denomi-
nations for general circulation.
One OF the rare pattern five cent pieces
of 1859 showed the head Of Lincoln on the
diverse and around tho border United
States Of America" Above the wreath
on the reverse. which enclosed tho value,
IS Cents was the motto -In God We
Trust" This coin was struck in copper
and nickel. the variety in tho latter metal
being now very rarc.
The mint engravers evidently did not
despair OF having the motto adopted,