I have a question, I had heard someplace that it was a government law that for all denominations above 50 cents that an eagle had to be present someplace on the coin. Is this correct? and does it include paper as well? Just curious
Close. By law the eagle must appear on all COINS with denominations higher than a DIME unless the legislation authorizing the design change specifies otherwise. There is no similar law for paper currency. The only law for paper that mandates the design is that no living person may appear on the currency. (When the US code states currency it means the paper currency or other paper financial instraments only not the coinage. When it means coinage it SAYS coinage.)
That's because the legislation that controls the mintage and design of state quarters specifically says that the quarters shall have designs pertinant to THAT state on their reverses. If that state has no eagles, or if it is more pertainent to put, for instance, a prospector on the Cali quarter, then that design trumps the eagle. ~AJ
ajm- What year was that law inacted? Also do you know what law added the In God We Trust to the currency?
1792 I believe. This one first came to be in 1864 - for coins. It became mandatory on all coins in 1908. And in 1956 for paper money.
Yeah, what he said! It was either 1792 or early '93.... and the in God We Trust was the mandatory one in 1908 for coins and 1956 for paper.
I found this link: The Coinage Act of April 2, 1792. See section: Of what devices http://www.constitution.org/uslaw/coinage1792.txt
