I recently sat down with my wallet and began ritualistically crossing out the “In God We Trust” off the back of all my bills. I do this regularly to support the idea of separation of church and state. This particular time I came across a ten dollar bill that lacked the offending mark. Closer examination indicated that it was a 1950 series ten dollar bill. In addition to the lack of a “In God We Trust” mark this bill also promised to pay me ten dollars in legal currency upon presentation to the department of the treasury, an interesting element for another writer and another article.

It got me to thinking that if the God Mark wasn’t there in 1950 when and where did this offending mark come from? In 1782 Jefferson, who coined the phrase ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ authored the first national motto. From an Deist and separationist like Jefferson this motto was clearly secular. “E Pluribus Unum,” (One from Many) was this first motto and still part of the great seal of the United States. This motto appeared on the first coin in 1798 and in 1837 was required by law to appear on all U.S. coins. It still appears on coins today.

This motto stood without challenge for nearly a century. In a letter dated November, 13 1861 from Rev. M. R. Watkinson, a Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, PA, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase was urged to recognize God on our coins for what strike me (non-lawyer) as unconstitutional reasons. The letter went as follows:

Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.

One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.

You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.

This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.

To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.

This letter set off a series of events that cause a 1864 law to be passed allowing the “In God We Trust” motto to be placed on one, two and three cent coins. At this time the congress was controlled and sympathetic to the historical equivalent of the Religious Right and caved in without thinking about the constitutional aspects. Watkinson and the congress of the time is our worst nightmare. Watkinson in addition religionizing the currency also went so far as to suggest amending the preamble of the constitution. A Petition was drawn up and formally presented to congress to change the preamble to the following:

“We, the people of the United States, humbly acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler among the nations, His revealed will as the supreme law of the land, in order to constitute a Christian government…”

Luckily the petition did not pass and we are allowed some degree of religious freedom in this country. On the coin front, however, Watkinson was wildly successful, by 1873 after passing several laws the “In God We Trust” motto was allowed on all coins and in 1908 it became mandatory on all U.S. coins.

In 1955 state-church separation became a victim of the cold war. The cold war was represented as a fight against the godless communists. The McCarthy era respect for individual rights led to President Eisenhower to sign Public Law 140 making it mandatory that all coins and paper money reflect an unconstitutional Christian state. In 1956 E Pluribus Unum was pushed aside as the national motto in favor of the religious motto. As part of a broad anti-communist/anti-atheist program that same year the words “under God” were added to the pledge of allegiance making it illegal for non-Christians to swear allegiance to their country under oath. This program also added the phrase “so help me god” to the oath administered to all judges.

The motto has been challenged at least twice, Once in 1970 (Aronow v. United States) and once in 1978 by the grandma of atheism (Madalyn Murray-O’Hair v W. Michael Blumenthal, Secretary of Treasury). Unfortunately both times the courts have closed their eyes and come to the conclusion that the phrase really isn’t religious (really) just like prayers at government meetings aren’t religious (really).

So where does that leave us? Well I suggest three action: First join me in protesting the phrase by crossing it out on any bill that crosses your path. Secondly make an weekly, monthly, annual or at least once ritual of writing the secretary of the Treasury, your congressmen, and senators with your thoughts on the constitutionality of this motto. And lastly remember that the “In God We Trust” motto does not prove, as is often suggested, that the United States was based on Christian ideals. Remember that the First Amendment is a much more basic tenant of the this country than it’s current motto.