The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

1864 marked the year for the recommendation of the establishment of an Engraving and Printing Bureau of the Treasury Department. Four short years later, with passage of the Act of March 3, 1869, "The Engraving and Printing Bureau" came into being. By the year 1877, all U.S. currency, its prinipal product, was printed in this bureau.

Portraits of three great First Officers of the nation, each of whom exemplified the Christian principles upon which this country was founded, appear upon the $l, $2 and $5 notes. They are: Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, respectively. Another important personage, whose face appears upon the $10 note, is Alexander Hamilton. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury and, while in Philadelphia, attended Christ Church - "the nation's church." It should also be noted that the nation's coins glorify God with the motto, In God We Trust.

"In God We Trust"

The following correspondence addressed to Hon. S.P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, and dated November 13, 1861, reveals how even America's coins came to be symbolic of her Christian heritage:

Dear Sir:

You are about to submit your annual report to Congress respecting the affairs of the
national finances.

One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the
recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.

You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were now shattered beyond
reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason
from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that...we shall have
next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words "perpetual union,"...beneath
this...the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States
united; in the folds of the bars the words "God, liberty, law."

This would make a beautiful coin, to whch no possible citizen could object. This would
relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the
Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my heart I have felt our national
shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.

To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.

(Sgd) M.R. Watkinson
Minister of the Gospel
Ridleyville, PA.

A few days after reading its contents, the Secretary of the Treasury addressed his response to the Director of the Mint in Philadelphia, as follows:

Dear Sir:

No nation can be strong except in the strength of God or safe except in His defense.
The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.

You will cause a devise to be prepared without unnecessaary delay with a motto
expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.

Yours truly,
(Sgd). S.P. Chase

A further letter from the Secratary of the Treasury to James Pollock, Director of the Mint, dated December 9, 1863, finalizes the conviction that the nation's strength lies in Almighty God and His defense.

He writes:

I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse
the motto should begin with the word "Our," so as to read:

"Our God and our Country." And on that with the shield, it should be changed so
as to read: "In God we Trust."

Thus it was that by Act of Congess, dated March 3, 1865, In God we Trust was inscribed upon the United States coins; later to be inscribed upon paper currency. The truth of its poignant message is a daily reminder to Americans where their allegiance lies: upon Almighty God and His providence (blessings) upon the land.

Anther important function of the Bureau is the production of postage stamps for the United States Postal Service. Designations, such as he "Americana Series" of 1975; the "Prominent Americans Series" of 1965; the "Liberty Series" of 1954 and the "Presidential Series" of 1938, are often used for these. The function of Memorial stamps is to honour great people of caliber; worthwhile achievements; anniversaries, expositions and historical events of great significance.

The National Philatelic Collection (housed in the National Museum of American History) comprises 15 million specimens of stamps, seals and related objects. Among this formidable acquisition of items pertaining to postage, are stamps and seals with biblical themes, quotations and personaages.

The Gutenberg Bible stamp, issued in 1952, commemorates he 500th anniversary of the printing of the first book, the Holy Bible, from movable type, by Johann Gutenberg. Pictured on the stamp is Gutenberg showing his proof to the Elector of Mainz.

Another famous stamp portrays George Washington taking the oath of office wih his hand upon the Bible. This takes place in Federal Hall, New York City, on April 30, 1789. On May 5th, 1969, a unique postage stamp was issued. It commemorates the Apollo 8 mission which first put men into orbit around the moon. Colonel Frank Borman, Captian James Lovell and Major William Anders were the astronauts on this lunar expedition. For the first time in history, the Word of God was relayed back to planet earth from the moon. A photograph taken from the moon entitled Earthrise, is featured on this stamp. Captioned beneah the rising earth are the first four words of Genesis, Scripture that was read from the moon to the earth: "In the beginning God..." (Gen. 1:1). Under the subsection "Biblical Personages" a 1983 issue of Martin Luther commemorates the 500th anniversary of this great Reformer.

Another stamp shows Washington at Valley Forge on his knees, praying. It was taken from a painting by J.C. Leyendecker. Many of the stamps are from lithographs of famous paintings displayed in the National Gallery of Art. Among these are: "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Giorgione, "The Annunciation," by fifteenth century Flemish painter, Jan van Eyck; "The Small Cowper Madonna," by Raphael and "The Madonna and Child with Cherubim" by Andrea della Robbia. The 1976 Christmas issue reflects a magnificent nativity scene by John Singleton Copley. Its original can be seen in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

Of unusual vintage is a Christmas stamp showing the Dove of Peace weathervane atop Mount Vermon, home of George Washington. A dove holds an olive branch in its beak. This comes from Genesis, chapter 8, and was ordered for Mount Vernon by George Washington himself, from Joseph Rakestraw of Philadelphia in 1787. Peace on Earth! the inscription reads.