Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : New Coin Design Rejected by House

Legislation for a radical redesigning of U.S. coins was rejected by the House, 241 to 172, after a rumor that “In God We Trust” would be eliminated went around. The proposal also was criticized as a pet project of Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) and his social companion. It would have placed a Bill of Rights theme on the “tail” side of the penny, nickel, dime, quarter and half-dollar, and would have allowed the Treasury to touch up portraits of Presidents on the “head” sides. It would not have affected the inscription “In God We Trust.”