Why do coins have the word "liberty" on them?

To put the word "LIBERTY" onto coins was written into the Coinage Act of 1792 and has never been modified.

From The Coinage Act:

• One side was to have an impression emblematic of liberty, with the inscription "LIBERTY" and the year of the coinage.

• The reverse side of each of the gold and silver coins was to have the figure or representation of an eagle with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

Technically, the new Presidential Dollars are not legal tender because they do not contain the word "LIBERTY" on either side. They also do not contain ANY gold, silver, or copper.



All other circulating coins include the word "LIBERTY" somewhere on the coin. The new presidential coins do not. However, the Statue of Liberty is depicted on the reverse side of the coin.

The previous design for the dollar coin "The Sacagawea Dollar" did have the word "Liberty" inscribed on it.



As did the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin:



The main reason the word "LIBERTY" is on coins and was written into the act is due to the meaning of the word "LIBERTY" itself:

From Roget's Thesaurus:

liberty (as in "freedom") n. : freedom of choice: "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"

The term "LIBERTY" is in and of itself representative of the Constitution of the United States and The Bill Of Rights and The Declaration Of Independence.

The Preamble Of The Constitution Of The United States Of America:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

from The Declaration Of Independence:

"... That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."



Picture above shows the word "LIBERTY" on other US coins.