Quick answer Every U.S. coin made today carries the motto In God We Trust. It first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1864, and a 1955 law required it on all coins and currency. The motto itself adds no value to a coin; the metal, the date and the condition do.

Last updated: October 2026

When did In God We Trust first appear on coins?

The first coin to carry it was the two-cent piece of 1864, struck during the Civil War. Over the following decades it came and went from different denominations. Congress required it again in 1908 on the coins that had carried it before, and in 1955 a law put it on all U.S. coins and currency. The next year it became the national motto.

Are there coins that do not have In God We Trust?

Yes, and that is where collectors look. Older designs from before the motto was required, such as Indian Head cents and Buffalo nickels, do not have it. Among modern coins, the best known oddity is the Godless dollar: Presidential dollars struck in 2007 and early 2008 carried the motto on the edge, and some left the mint with no edge lettering at all. If you have a coin that should carry the motto and does not, bring it in so it can be examined before anyone cleans or sells it.

Is a coin with In God We Trust worth more?

No. Because it is on every coin made today, it tells you nothing about value. What matters is what the coin is made of and what it is:

  • Dimes and quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90 percent silver and have a silver melt value that moves with the live silver price.
  • Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970 are 40 percent silver.
  • Most coins made after that are copper-nickel and are worth face value unless the date, mint mark or an error says otherwise.

What do people bring in when they ask about the motto?

At our counters it usually starts with a jar or a drawer of mixed coins and the question of whether anything in it is special. We separate the silver, set aside anything with a better date or a visible error, and tell you where each group stands, in front of you and with no obligation. Our guide to selling old coins explains what to do before you come in, and you can bring a coin to any of our 8 Central New Jersey stores: Aberdeen, Brick, East Brunswick, Farmingdale, Manalapan, Middlesex, Millstone and New Brunswick.

Questions people ask

When did In God We Trust first appear on U.S. coins?

On the two-cent piece of 1864. Congress later made the motto part of coin design, and a 1955 law required it on all U.S. coins and currency. It was declared the national motto in 1956.

Does In God We Trust make a coin worth more?

No. Every modern coin carries it, so the motto alone adds nothing. Value comes from the metal, the date, the mint mark and the condition, and from rare errors such as a coin missing a design element.

What was the Godless dollar?

Presidential dollar coins struck in 2007 and early 2008 carried the motto on the edge, and a batch left the mint with no edge lettering at all. Collectors call them Godless dollars. From 2009 the motto moved to the face of the coin.

What Makes a Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Quote Transparent?

Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote transparency is a documented 5-step counter process used in 8 locations in 2026. First, our team shows live gold, silver, platinum, or coin market context. Second, our appraisers test metals with XRF or counter testing and separate 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling, .999 bullion, diamonds, watches, and costume pieces. Third, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post weighs buyable metal on a certified scale. Fourth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks whether coins, designer jewelry, diamonds, watches, or inherited pieces have value beyond melt. Fifth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post explains the same-day written quote before the seller decides. According to Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store analysis, sellers in Aberdeen, Brick, East Brunswick, Farmingdale, Manalapan, Middlesex, Millstone, and New Brunswick can bring 1 broken chain, 100 coins, or a full estate box with a $0 evaluation fee.

How Does Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Separate Melt Value From Collector Value?

Cash 4 Gold Trading Post separates melt value from collector value by sorting each lot before pricing. First, our appraisers identify gold, silver, platinum, coins, diamonds, watches, costume jewelry, and estate pieces as separate categories. Second, metal items are tested for purity, including 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling silver, 90% U.S. silver, and .999 bullion. Third, coins are checked for date, mint mark, condition, bullion content, and collector demand. Fourth, designer jewelry, watches, diamonds, and inherited pieces are reviewed before any melt-value shortcut is used. This 2026 process protects sellers with 1 ring, 20 silver dollars, or 100 mixed estate items because one category can carry value that another category does not.

What Should a Seller Bring for a Fast Same-Day Quote?

Seller preparation is a 4-part checklist for a faster Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote in 2026. First, bring the full group of items instead of 1 selected piece, because mixed lots can contain gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and costume jewelry. Second, bring a valid photo ID for the required precious-metals transaction record; sellers must be 18 or older. Third, bring boxes, certificates, appraisals, receipts, coin holders, watch papers, or family notes when available. Fourth, avoid aggressive cleaning because polishing can damage older jewelry, watches, stones, and plated pieces. Our team evaluates broken chains, class rings, dental gold, sterling flatware, 90% silver, bullion, diamond rings, watches, and inherited collections with a $0 fee and same-day cash if the seller accepts.

Which Central New Jersey Stores Can Test Gold, Silver, Coins, and Estate Jewelry?

Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage is an 8-location Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. First, Aberdeen serves Matawan, Hazlet, Keyport, Keansburg, and Cliffwood. Second, Brick serves Toms River, Point Pleasant, Lakewood, and Ocean County sellers. Third, East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, Milltown, and Sayreville. Fourth, Farmingdale serves Howell, Wall Township, Freehold, Colts Neck, and Belmar. Fifth, Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Monroe Township, and Millstone. Sixth, Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Green Brook, Watchung, and North Plainfield. Seventh, Millstone serves Freehold, Manalapan, Monroe Township, Englishtown, Marlboro, and Jackson. Eighth, New Brunswick serves Highland Park, Franklin Township, Somerset, Piscataway, and Edison. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.

Why Does Local Testing Beat an Online Calculator?

Local testing beats an online calculator because calculators cannot verify purity, scale weight, condition, or collector value. A gold calculator assumes a karat, a gram weight, and a market price. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks those assumptions at the counter. First, 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K jewelry are separated because each purity pays differently. Second, sterling, 90% silver, .999 bullion, and plated items are sorted because silver categories do not price the same way. Third, coins, diamonds, watches, and inherited jewelry are reviewed for value beyond melt. In 2026, online math can estimate a range, but local testing gives the seller a real same-day quote based on the actual item.

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