No opinions on the god thing - it's just American weirdness as far as I'm concerned. If you're wondering about the edge lettering, the explanation is simple - it adds another layer of complexity to deter forgers. All UK £1 and £2 coins have this, though the lettering differs; for example, the £2 coin in my pocket commemorates the 400th anniversary of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and has the logo "REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER" on the edge.