In God We Trust - this date inhistory
coastaljerseyguy
Posts: 1,596 ✭✭✭✭✭
Back on this date in 1864, Congress authorized the usage of the motto "In God We Trust" on our coinage. And yes, everyone else pay me in gold & silver. Are you listening Ben Bernanke and the rest of the cronies @ the Fed & our govt who keep issuing IOUs.
To honor this date and foresight of our leaders 147 years ago,I wanted to share some of my collection.
Enjoy
Jim
To honor this date and foresight of our leaders 147 years ago,I wanted to share some of my collection.
Enjoy
Jim
0
Comments
And it's funny that the stated reason that the courts let it stay is because it has "lost through rote repetition any significant religious content".
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
<< <i> And yes, everyone else pay me in gold & silver. Are you listening Ben Bernanke and the rest of the cronies @ the Fed & our govt who keep issuing IOUs.
>>
The problem with your logic (and a lot of other crazy people's) is that gold and silver are simply a store of value too or as you put it an IOU no different then paper. While clearly they have a longer and older precedence, one could argue that paper has more practical applications towards survival such as it can be burned for heat or used to write on and is a better store of value. Labor/food/shelter are the only pure values, everything else is a luxury based off a proportional value in relationship to those crossed against its specific demand index.
biggest boom of silver/gold mining in the country! There were only three things that anyone living here
COULD trust in: Colt, Winchester and God.
Just imagine, not one flush toilet, no air conditioning (unless your tent flap was open), Carson City was
but 5 years old and NO MINT yet, no cobblestone, brick or anything resembling a paved road. Travel was
by horse, foot or ass (donkey or burro as you prefer).
People prayed all day long. "Lord, let me find some silver", "God, give me the strength to go on", etc, etc.
God was, as is today, a big part of the way we live our lives. We need to trust in God. Congress knew that
we could not trust in man (or Congress) so it made sense to add God to our coinage!
bob
<< <i>God was, as is today, a big part of the way we live our lives. We need to trust in God. Congress knew that
we could not trust in man (or Congress) so it made sense to add God to our coinage! >>
Great post for Good Friday, and well stated, AUandAG!
Once the Fed stops issuing those IOU's...or even meaningfully slow down, your gold and silver will plummet.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Nice coins CJG! Love the Morgan toner.
<< <i>This should not be on our currency. >>
it should not only be on our currency, it should be everywhere else also.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Eric
"There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah"
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
<< <i>I am fine with "In God We Trust" being on our coinage as it represents the majority and does not breach anything in the Constitution and Amendments - "separation of church and state" is not in our Constitution. >>
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Here is a website with additional info: God Our Trust
Joe.
<< <i>At the Jan 2011 FUN show there was IMO a great exhibit of coins with the original suggested motto of: God Our Trust. I drooled over those coins.
Here is a website with additional info: God Our Trust
Joe. >>
Great read!
It came about on the 2 cent piece (I guess it could have been any coin handy) and owes its existence to a minister who had the ear of the mint director/other connections, who thought in the midst of a bloody Civil War, that something should be emblazoned on our coinage to prove to future generations that we weren't a godless, heathen nation.
Then, about 50 years on, Teddy R. thought reference to God on "dirty" circulating currency of the realm sacrilegious, and had it removed, only to place it back after a public outcry -- and there it has stayed.
<< <i>Once the Fed stops issuing those IOU's.... >>
So, when is the Fed going to stop printing money? When he11 freezes over?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>I am fine with "In God We Trust" being on our coinage as it represents the majority and does not breach anything in the Constitution and Amendments - "separation of church and state" is not in our Constitution. >>
While the actual words "Separation of church and state" are not in the Constitution, the intent is, and the authors of the Constitution were pretty plain about their ideas in this regard. All you have to do is read their writings on the subject. Not sure where Jefferson and Madison would have stood on the idea of "In God We Trust" on our coins and currency, but I think it is wrong to assume that they would have fully supported it.
I thought the uproar over the placement of the motto on the initial Presidential dollars was a lot of fun. An incredibly tiny minority had it changed, even though 99% of them most likely never had one of these coins in their hands. The resulting designs are much more crowded, diminishing their overall appearance.
Bottom line -- who thinks that God really cares?
<< I am fine with "In God We Trust" being on our coinage as it represents the majority and does not breach anything in the Constitution and Amendments - "separation of church and state" is not in our Constitution. >>
While the actual words "Separation of church and state" are not in the Constitution, the intent is, and the authors of the Constitution were pretty plain about their ideas in this regard. All you have to do is read their writings on the subject. Not sure where Jefferson and Madison would have stood on the idea of "In God We Trust" on our coins and currency, but I think it is wrong to assume that they would have fully supported it.
************
I agree with Nysoto and I have read the original documents.
<< <i>There is a wise old saying... don’t discuss politics and religion.
If I remember correctly the DI in basic added "Mothers and Sisters" to the list.
I'm glad it's on our coinage as it can mean many things to many people.
Respectfully Yours,
Pete
Louis Armstrong
........ because it forces all that other stuff onto the coins' EDGES!!
Seriously, though, I'm in favor of a minor tweak to that motto to:
"In God We Trust. In the FED... We're Not So Sure"
- - Dave
P.S. I really love that 2 cent coin design!
<< <i>While the actual words "Separation of church and state" are not in the Constitution, the intent is, and the authors of the Constitution were pretty plain about their ideas in this regard. All you have to do is read their writings on the subject. Not sure where Jefferson and Madison would have stood on the idea of "In God We Trust" on our coins and currency, but I think it is wrong to assume that they would have fully supported it. >>
The Founding Fathers frequently used non-denominational references to God in official documents. The Virginia Declaration of Rights approved on 6/12/1776 includes "our Creator", influenced by Madison and Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence uses "of Natures God" and "endowed by their Creator". Jefferson ordered Indian Peace Medals in 1780 and 1781 with the motto "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God", this motto was originated by Benjamin Franklin and was also used on Jefferson's personal seal.
<< <i>The church and state idea came from Jefferson and he was referring to there NOT being an official church of the United Sates (like the Church of England) >>
Yes, exactly in that context. In an 1/1/1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, Jefferson wrote "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
The Founding Fathers freely mentioned God, but were clearly against any government mandated religion since the Virginia Declaration of Rights "all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience."
"In God We Trust" on coinage is a non-denominational reference to God, clearly in line with our Founding Fathers ideals.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I was being slightly facetious in my original blog just because of the current runup of silver & gold & the downward spiral of the US $, and used a common urban legend/joke, but one I heard may times as a boy when someone explained what In God We Trust meant. I do trust in God and have no issues being on our coinage. Sounds better than "I trust in the US Govt", or even Land of the Free.
Thanks for sharing the 1st coin with the motto, that is a beautiful 2 cent coin.
Pete
Louis Armstrong
Either IGWT is some sort of "ceremonial deism" (a legal fairy tale if there ever was one ) and thus can be removed from coinage because it's no big deal and thus will help de-clutter our coins of a legend, or else it is inherently religious, favoring some over others, and some over none, and thus should be removed from coinage and currency on Constitutional grounds. Given what happened when that addition to the Pledge was ruled unconstitutional (and unfortunately later overturned), I think the nature of IGWT is clear.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
Happy Easter!
Pete
Louis Armstrong
The Final Letter, as Sent
To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
However, I think a good case can be made to have IGWT taken off the currency.
Would Congress be brave enough to do it? Well, they do employ a Congressional Chaplain.....
I just don't see removal happening any time soon.
<< <i>We are a God fearing country, or at least 86% of us are, and "In God We Trust" reflects that belief, though it is demonstrated in many different ways by it's people. >>
57% percent of americans think that abortion should be legal in "all or most cases".
Would a pro-choice commem be cool with you?
If not, why?
you could simply ask, with the "US being mostly religious" should there be a "Religions of America" commemorative series?
We could even include the "pagan" religions and other non-Judeo-Christian-Mulsim ones for completeness.
Acceptable or not?
I think it is a valid question in relation to having IGWT on coin & currency.