You see, the motto (along with the date and mint mark) is located around the edge of each coin. Those news reporters evidently didn’t look at the coin’s edge, or if they did, maybe they are a little farsighted. (The edge lettering is small and a little hard to read.)

Leave it to the news media to get people riled up. Seems that a lot of citizens emailed and called their congressmen. Unbeknownst to them (that the motto is on the edge) they have demanded that the motto “In God We Trust” be reinstated on the Presidential Dollars. Congress in their attempt to appease the people decided that the motto should be moved to where the public can easily tell that it is there. So, they passed a bill mandating that the motto be moved.

The law did not pass in time to affect the 2008 coins. However, beginning with the 2009 Presidential Dollars, God will be moved to the obverse.

In God We Trust on face of 2009 Presidential $s

The inscription “In God We Trust” will now be found on the lower left corner. Other edge lettering such as the year, mint mark, and motto “E. Pluribus Unum” will remain on the edge (around the rim). The 2009 Native American $1 coins will follow this same process.

The first Presidential $ to have the changed lettering will be the 2009 William Henry Harrison presidential dollar.

An unofficial spokesman summed it up this way:

“There will be no question ‘where God is’ on the new 2009 Dollar coins.”

[ End ]

The proposed coin design changes have been implemented beginning with the 2009 Presidential Dollar coins item # PD6.

See related article indicating the Presidential Dollar coin release schedule for future years.

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