coins? “In God We Trust” is the most recently added of the three slogans, first appearing on a U.S. Where did they come from? Which was first adopted for coins and when? And are these the original slogans of U.S. Each of these messages encapsulates a core belief or ideal of our nation. The first two are on the front (obverse or “heads”), the last is on the back (reverse or “tails”).

coin you will see three mottoes: “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “E Pluribus Unum” ( Figure 1). A motto is a short sentence or phrase that encapsulates key beliefs or ideals guiding an individual, family, or institution, in this case the United States of America. Lincoln was joined in 1932 by Washington on the quarter, Jefferson in 1939 on the nickel, Roosevelt in 1946 on the dime, and Kennedy in 1964 on the half dollar.įaces on coins tell stories -as do words, especially in mottoes. Presidents began to appear in 1909, on the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birth. From the time that the United States minted its first coins at the end of the 18th century until the beginning of the 20th century, every one of its coins featured either an abstract female or a Native American. coins tell is the increasing importance of the President.

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