E pluribus unum, adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created
The phrase appears to have originated in "The Star-Spangled Banner", written during the War of 1812.
it was found that the Act of Congress dated, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States.
"In God we trust" has appeared on most U.S. coins since 1864
This meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress since April 22, 1864
Another Act of Congress passed on March 3, 1865, It 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."
The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938
In God we trust was adopted as the official motto of the United States.