Today in history: April 22

On this date in 1864, the United States Congress passes the Coinage Act.  It authorizes the creation of a new 2-cent coin (left), on which Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase decides to put the words “In God We Trust.”  That’s the first use of that motto on a U.S. coin.

No one at the time can possibly suspect that this will go on to become the motto of the United States, far outlasting the coin that introduced it.

[Frank Snyder]