Historians credit
the Reverend Mark R. Watkinson as being the catalyst behind the phrase “In God
We Trust.” The living Mark C. Watkinson, Municipal Bond extraordinaire and partner
at Watkinson Capital was named after his ancestor. October 1st, 2025 marks the 68th anniversary of #IGWT first appearing on US paper currency.
The following is a deep dive into the
history regarding how “In God We Trust” came to be on all US currency and our
nation’s motto.
October 1st,
1957
"In God We
Trust" was first used on paper money on October 1, 1957, when it appeared
on the one-dollar silver certificate. For context, the motto "In God We
Trust" had been appearing on U.S. coins since 1864, but it was not until
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill in 1956 requiring its inclusion on
all currency that it made the leap to paper money.
The inaugural
appearance was indeed on the Series 1935E $1 silver certificate, which hit
circulation on this very date in 1957. By 1964, it was standardized on all U.S.
bills. Fun fact: The phrase “In God is our trust” originated from the American
national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," penned during the War of
1812. This phrase is found in the 4th stanza which you will not hear
before a Phillies game.
Early Inspirations
The phrase itself
echoes biblical sentiments, such as Psalm 56:11 ("In God have I put my
trust") and Psalm 115:9–11. It appeared in early American contexts as far
back as 1748, when Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania militia reportedly used it
on their colors, as noted in The Pennsylvania Gazette. A more direct
literary precursor came in 1814 with Francis Scott Key's poem "Defence of
Fort M'Henry" (later adapted as "The Star-Spangled Banner"),
which includes the line: "And this be our motto: 'In God is our
trust.'" By the 1840s, it also featured in hymns and fraternal society
mottos, like those of the Odd Fellows.
Birth on U.S. Coins
During the Civil War
The motto's adoption
on currency was spurred by the heightened religious fervor of the 1860s, as
Union supporters sought to invoke divine favor against the Confederacy (whose
constitution explicitly referenced God). In November 1861, Rev. Mark R. Watkinson,
a Pennsylvania minister, wrote to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, urging
the inclusion of a nod to "Almighty God" on coins to counterbalance
secular influences and affirm national piety. Chase, an evangelical
Episcopalian and future Chief Justice, agreed and tasked James Pollock,
Director of the Philadelphia Mint and a member of the National Reform
Association (a group pushing for Christian acknowledgments in public life),
with designing suitable inscriptions.After considering options like "Our
Country; Our God" and drawing possible inspiration from Brown University's
motto "In Deo Speramus" ("In God We Hope"), Chase settled
on "In God We Trust" in December 1863. The Coinage Act of April 22,
1864—passed by Congress and signed by President Abraham Lincoln—authorized its
use on the one-cent and two-cent coins.
The motto debuted
that year on the bronze two-cent piece, the first U.S. coin to bear it, with
the words arched above the shield emblem. Public reaction was divided:
Christian publications praised it as a bulwark against atheism, while some
secular voices decried it as an improper mingling of church and state.
Further legislation
expanded its reach. The March 3, 1865, act (also signed by Lincoln) allowed it
on all gold and silver coins large enough to accommodate it. By the 1873
Coinage Act, the Treasury Secretary had discretion to place it wherever
fitting. It appeared sporadically on various denominations through the late
19th century, but controversies arose—such as President Theodore Roosevelt's
1907 decision to omit it from new gold double eagles, deeming it
"sacrilegious" on money. Public outcry and congressional pressure led
to its mandatory restoration on all coins by 1908, with full compliance across
denominations by 1938.
Path to Paper
Currency and National Motto:
The motto's
expansion to paper money came during the Cold War, as the U.S. emphasized its
religious foundations against "godless" communism. In 1954, it even
graced U.S. postage stamps. On July 11, 1955, Congress passed a joint
resolution (Public Law 84–140), signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower,
requiring "In God We Trust" on all paper currency. It first appeared
on the Series 1935E $1 silver certificate, entering circulation on October 1,
1957.
Just a year earlier,
on July 30, 1956, Eisenhower signed another joint resolution (Public Law
84–851), unanimously declaring "In God We Trust" the official
national motto—supplanting the long-standing de facto motto "E Pluribus
Unum" from the Great Seal. This move, codified in 36 U.S.C. § 302, passed
without debate amid broader efforts to infuse public symbols with faith (like
adding "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954).
It has been
reaffirmed multiple times since, including by the Senate in 2006 and the House
in 2011 (396–9 vote). Today, the motto symbolizes a blend of piety, patriotism,
and historical resilience, though it continues to spark debates over
church-state separation. Its story reflects how moments of national crisis—from
Civil War battles to Cold War tensions—have shaped enduring American icons.
Best,
W. Jeffrey
Watkinson
Co-CIO
484-540-9218
jeff@watkinsoncap.com
#MuniBonds #municipalbonds #Munis #WatkinsonMuniBonds #WatkinsonMunicipalBonds #SMAs #TaxEquivalentYield #TEY #MuniLand #GetRealStayRich #TBillandChill #TBillnChill #InGodWeTrust #IGWT