Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-15
STORY OF THE COINS MOTTO
HOW I'm GOD WE TRUST" CAME
TO BE ADOPTED.
Suggested by Pennsylvania Clergy
man, Approved by Secretary
Chase, Adopted by Congress.

The many questions that have arisen in
connection with the omission. at President
Roosevelts direction. OF the words In
God We Trust from the new gold coins
are answered in detail by a report OF the
director OF the United States mint In the
Bankers Magazine of New York
The Idea Suggested.
The report of the director of the mint
follows:
From the records OF the department. It
appears that the first suggestion OF the
recognition of the Deity on the coins of
the United States was contained in let
ter addressed TO the Secretary OF the
treasury, the Hon. S. L. Chase. by the
Rev M X. Watkinson. minister OF the
gospel, Ridleyville. Pa, under date OF
November b., 1851, which was as follows:
'Ridleyviile, Pa. November -. 1851
lear Sir: You are about to submit
your annual report to Congress respecting
the affairs of the national finances
one fact touching our currency has
hitherto been seriously overlooked.
mean the recognition of the Almighty
GOD In some form on our coins
GU are probably a Christian What
II our republic were now shattered beyond
reconstruction? Would not the antioua
rlans OF succeeding centuries rightly r,a son
from our past that We were heather
nation2 What l propose is that. instead
OF the Goddess of Liberty We shall have
next inside the thirteen stars ring IN
scribed with the words, perpetual
union; within this ring the aIl-seeins
eye, crowned with a halo: beneath this
eye the American flag. bearing In its field
stars equal to the number OF states
united: in the folds of the bars the
words. God liberty. law"
This would make beautiful coin to
which 10 possible citizen could object
rms would relieve us from the Ignominy
or heathenlsm. This would place US open
~ under the Divine protection We have
personally claimed. From my heart have
felt our national shame In disownlng God
as not the least of our present national
disasters.
To you fl; ST I address a subject that
must be agitated. NJ X. WATKINSON.
Minister of the Gospel
Hon. s. P. Chase, Secretary of the
Treasury
Secretary Chase Approves.
Under date of November 90. 1851. the
Secretary of the Treasury addressed the
following letter to the director of the
mint:
Treasury Department,
November 20. 1881
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong
except In the strength of God. or safe ex-
cept in his defense. The trust of our
people IN GOD SnOu q be decla red our
national coin.
You will cause a device to be pre-
pared without unnecessary delay with a
motto expressing in the feRest and terses,
words possible this national recognition.
Yours truly, s. p. CHASE.
" James Pollock esq. director of the
mint, Phi adelphia. Pa
1t was found that the act of January
1887 prescribed the notices and devices
that should be placed upon the coins OF
a NIL Tod Sf1fn
be done without legislation.
in December, 1863. the director of the
mint submitted to the Secretary of the
Treasury for approval designs for one.
two and three-cent pieces, on which ii
was proposed that one of the following
notices should appear: Our country; our
Cod; God. our trust.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in a
letter addressed to the director of the
mint, under the date of December g. 1865
uses the following language:
i approve your notices. only suggest
ing that on that with the Washington
diverse the motto should begin with the
word Our so as to read: Our God and
our country" and on that with the shield
it should be changed so as to read: In
God We trust.
Action by Congress.
AN act was passed April %. 1864
changing the composition Of the one-cent
PNSNN
two-cent piece. the devices of which were
to be- fixed by the director of the mint,
with the approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury; and it is upon the two-cent
bronze piece that the motto In God We
trust first appears.
The act of March s. 1865 provided that
in addition to the legend and device on
the gold and silver coins Of the United
States it should be lawful for the director
of the mint. with the approval of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. to place the motto
In God we trust on such coins as shall
admit of the inscription thereon. Under
this act the motto was placed upon the
double eagle, eagle and half eagle, and
also upon the dollar. half and quarter
dollar in the latter part of 1865.
The coinage act of February H. 1879.
provided that the Secretary of the Treas
ury may cause the motto In God We trust
to be inscribed on such coins as shall ad-
NIT of such motto.
This is a brief history of the motto In