<P> As Chase was preparing his recommendation to Congress, it was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837 prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States . This meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress . Such legislation was introduced and passed as the Coinage Act of 1864 on April 22, 1864, allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the inclusion of the phrase on one - cent and two - cent coins . </P> <P> An Act of Congress passed on March 3, 1865, allowed the Mint Director, with the Secretary's approval, to place the motto on all gold and silver coins that "shall admit the inscription thereon". In 1873, Congress passed the Coinage Act, granting that the Secretary of the Treasury "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto". </P> <P> The similar phrase' In God is our Trust' appears in "The Star - Spangled Banner", adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931 . Written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, the fourth stanza includes the phrase, "And this be our motto:' In God is our Trust"', which was adapted as the national motto . </P> <P> The use of "In God We Trust" has been interrupted . The motto disappeared from the five - cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938 . However, at least two other coins minted in every year in the interim still bore the motto, including the Morgan dollar and the Seated Liberty half dollar . The omission of the motto "In God We Trust" on the Indian Head eagle coin caused public outrage, and prompted Congress to pass a bill mandating its inclusion . Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber added the words and made minor modifications to the design . In 1908, Congress made it mandatory that the phrase be printed on all coins upon which it had previously appeared . This decision was motivated after a public outcry following the release of a $20 coin which did not bear the motto . The motto has been in continuous use on the one - cent coin since 1909, and on the ten - cent coin since 1916 . It also has appeared on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half - dollar coins, and quarter - dollar coins struck since July 1, 1908 . Since 1938, all US coins have borne the motto . </P>

When did in god we trust first appear