Some Coins Lack 'In God We Trist'

[Brownian Motion]

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Published: March 7, 2007

Filed at 12:41 p.m. ET

Some Coins Lack 'In God We Trist'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- An unknown number of new George Washington dollar coins were mistakenly struck without their edge inscriptions, including ''In God We Trust,'' and made it past inspectors and into circulation, the U.S. Mint said Wednesday.

The properly struck dollar coins, bearing the likeness of George Washington, are inscribed along the edge with ''In God We Trust,'' ''E Pluribus Unum'' and the year and mint mark. They went into circulation Feb. 15.

The mint struck 300 million of the coins, which are golden in color and slightly larger and thicker than a quarter.

About half were made in Philadelphia and the rest in Denver. So far the mint has only received reports of error coins coming from Philadelphia, mint spokeswoman Becky Bailey said.

Bailey said it was unknown how many coins didn't have the inscriptions. Ron Guth, president of Professional Coin Grading Service, one of the world's largest coin authentication companies, said he believes that at least 50,000 error coins were put in circulation.

''The first one sold for $600 before everyone knew how common they actually were,'' he said. ''They're going for around $40 to $60 on eBay now, and they'll probably settle in the $50 range.''

Production of the presidential dollar entails a ''new, complex, high-volume manufacturing system'' that the mint will adjust to eliminate any future defects, the mint said in a statement.

''We take this matter seriously. We also consider quality control a high priority. The agency is looking into the matter to determine a possible cause in the manufacturing process,'' the statement said.

The coin's design has already spurred e-mail conspiracy theories claiming that the religious motto was purposely omitted from the Washington dollars. That rumor may have started because the edge lettering cannot be seen in head-on photographs of the coins.

The Washington dollars are the first in a series of presidential coins slated to run until 2016. After Washington, the presidents to be honored on dollar coins this year will be John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Bailey said the striking of the Adams coin, expected to roll out in mid-May, will proceed as planned.

''We are adjusting the manufacturing process to try to eliminate the problems,'' she said.

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[connoisseur series500]

religious coins worth less, huh?

[RDK]

It would've been funnier if the misprint was "In Dog We Trust."

[Dave Garrett]

It would've been funnier if the misprint was "In Dog We Trust."

Or, even worse, "In Dog We Tryst".

[Alexander]

Some Coins Lack 'In God We Trust'

Amazing. And yet the Union endures! Funny, that's not what the Fundies predict would happen if we took "In God We Trust" off of our currency. This is a dangerous precedent!

[BruceH]

The Washington dollars are the first in a series of presidential coins slated to run until 2016. After Washington, the presidents to be honored on dollar coins this year will be John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

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Gee, can't wait for Chester Arthur.

[BruceH]

And are they going to issue a Grover Cleveland coin twice, since he's the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?

[Rooster_Ties]

And are they going to issue a Grover Cleveland coin twice, since he's the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?

Yes, they are. Seriously.

[Chuck Nessa]

Can I still buy candy bars with 'em?

[Adam]

i didn't even know these new coins were coming out. I think the error was just a way to come up with some press for thee release.

[BruceH]

I haven't seen them anywere yet.

[Shrdlu]

Well, I trust in God, and don't have to see it on a coin to bolster my confidence. Its disappearance from money isn't going to bring the walls tumbling down. What kind of preacher is going to make a dumbell statement like that? I guess the kind who hates just about everyone he comes across because of the things they do.

[Scott Dolan]

It would've been funnier if the misprint was "In Dog We Trust."

Or, even worse, "In Dog We Tryst".

[Jazzmoose]

Well, I trust in God, and don't have to see it on a coin to bolster my confidence. Its disappearance from money isn't going to bring the walls tumbling down. What kind of preacher is going to make a dumbell statement like that? I guess the kind who hates just about everyone he comes across because of the things they do.

Good to see you around, dude!!!

[Jazzmoose]

And are they going to issue a Grover Cleveland coin twice, since he's the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?

Is the William Henry Harrison just going to be a dime since he only served a month?

[BruceH]

And are they going to issue a Grover Cleveland coin twice, since he's the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?

Is the William Henry Harrison just going to be a dime since he only served a month?

No, they'll just issue the Harrison coin for a day.

[RDK]

I hear the Gerald Ford dollar is gonna replace the quarter.

[Shrdlu]

You like football? You like nachos?

Then let's get some nachos and watch some football!

[DTMX]

And are they going to issue a Grover Cleveland coin twice, since he's the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms?

Is the William Henry Harrison just going to be a dime since he only served a month?

Yeah, and the coin for Millard Fillmore is going to be...

Um...

I got nothing.