Click to enlargeJ297/P355/P356

The 1862 eagle with "God Our Trust" on a scroll above the eagle's head. This is the precursor design to the "In God We Trust" reverse die which went into production in 1866.

These were struck from two different obverse dies differing in date placement. The illustrated example is the low date variety P355 with about a dozen known. The high date variety P356 appears to be a bit rarer with only a half dozen known.

W. Elliot Woodward mentions in his May 1863 sale catalog that 25 sets were produced. He also mentions in his October 1880 Haines sale catalog of the peddling of these sets by mint officials.

To see both obverse dies side by side, click here.

Examples are known both gilted as illustrated and also bronzed.

Photo courtesy of Heritage.