Augustus Saint-Gaudens created what would later be referred to as the Double Eagle, which is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful American coins. President Theodore Roosevelt handpicked Saint-Gaudens to design the coin. Because “IN GOD WE TRUST” wasn’t included in the first production in 1908, the coin was not well received initially. Congress subsequently mandated that the phrase be included on all United States coinage. In the middle of 1908, the U.S. Mint stopped minting the “No Motto” Saint-Gaudens, replacing the original design with a version that included “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the reverse below the flying eagle.
