Seal of the United States of America
A Very Short History of Seals
The use of seals is ancient. For the past 6,000 years cultures have used seals to show ownership or to show that a document is legal or genuine. Seals have been used across the world including ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome. One of the earliest types of seals was a seal ring in which a gem for decoration was used to form the seal.
On July 4, 1776, a committee was appointed by the Continental Congress to create the Great Seal of the United States. This seal would authenticate signatures on treaties and other official documents. The great seal is the actual engraved metal that impresses the design into a document. It is also the impression made by the die. The Great Seal is kept at the State Department in a cabinet. It is inside a glass case and kept locked at all times. It’s usually used for documents used in international affairs – treaties, international agreements, appointments of Ambassadors, etc. Originally, the seal hung from a ribbon or a cord attached to a document – that is why it has two sides. Impressions were made from both sides of the glob of wax that hung from the cord. Today, a paper wafer is glued to the document, and then the paper is pressed with the seal. The main creators of the Great Seal of the United States are Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. It took six years to complete the design of The Great Seal
The use of seals is ancient. For the past 6,000 years cultures have used seals to show ownership or to show that a document is legal or genuine. Seals have been used across the world including ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome. One of the earliest types of seals was a seal ring in which a gem for decoration was used to form the seal.
On July 4, 1776, a committee was appointed by the Continental Congress to create the Great Seal of the United States. This seal would authenticate signatures on treaties and other official documents. The great seal is the actual engraved metal that impresses the design into a document. It is also the impression made by the die. The Great Seal is kept at the State Department in a cabinet. It is inside a glass case and kept locked at all times. It’s usually used for documents used in international affairs – treaties, international agreements, appointments of Ambassadors, etc. Originally, the seal hung from a ribbon or a cord attached to a document – that is why it has two sides. Impressions were made from both sides of the glob of wax that hung from the cord. Today, a paper wafer is glued to the document, and then the paper is pressed with the seal. The main creators of the Great Seal of the United States are Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. It took six years to complete the design of The Great Seal
The Great Seal Symbols
Bald Eagle: The bald eagle was chosen to be our nation’s coat of arms (the official mark of an independent nation’s authority) because it is a species only found in North America. The bald eagle is the main figure on the front of The Great Seal and is holding an olive branch and a bundle of 13 arrows that represent “the power of peace and war”. The eagle faces the olive branch to show that peace is emphasized over war.
Pyramid: The main figure on the reverse side of The Great seal is a pyramid which signifies strength and longevity. There was a fascination in the late eighteenth century about Egypt and things Egyptian. The pyramid is also unfinished! American history is always alive and growing, always unfinished!
Three Latin mottos:
E pluribus unum: from many, one; a clear reference to the thirteen colonies united into one nation
Annuit Coeptis: He has smiled on our undertakings (or God is in favor of the American cause)
Novus ordo seclorum: New order of the ages (or the beginning of the new American era); underneath is the date of the Declaration of Independence in Roman numerals - MDCCLXXVI – 1776.
Eight symbols representative of the number 13 which represent our 13 original American colonies:
13 stars in the constellation - in the shape of a hexagram – a new state taking its rank among other powers in the world
13 stripes on the shield (7white and 6 red) – shield represents out of many, one
13 arrows in the eagles left talon (Sticks alone are easily broken, but sticks in a bundle are unbreakable)
13 letters in E pluribus unum
13 letters in Anuuit Coeptis
13 leaves on the olive branch
13 olives on the olive branch
13 levels of the pyramid
Glory: A glory is on both sides of the great seal. The glory is a symbol of providence (God) and is represented by rays of light.
Eye: The eye represents God overlooking our nation. Many cultures see the eye as divine.
Escutcheon (or shield): The shield is on the breast of an American eagle without any other supporters to show that the United States of America is independent and relies on itself.
Source: The Great Seal of the United States of America. [On-line]. Available URL: http://www.greatseal.com
Bald Eagle: The bald eagle was chosen to be our nation’s coat of arms (the official mark of an independent nation’s authority) because it is a species only found in North America. The bald eagle is the main figure on the front of The Great Seal and is holding an olive branch and a bundle of 13 arrows that represent “the power of peace and war”. The eagle faces the olive branch to show that peace is emphasized over war.
Pyramid: The main figure on the reverse side of The Great seal is a pyramid which signifies strength and longevity. There was a fascination in the late eighteenth century about Egypt and things Egyptian. The pyramid is also unfinished! American history is always alive and growing, always unfinished!
Three Latin mottos:
E pluribus unum: from many, one; a clear reference to the thirteen colonies united into one nation
Annuit Coeptis: He has smiled on our undertakings (or God is in favor of the American cause)
Novus ordo seclorum: New order of the ages (or the beginning of the new American era); underneath is the date of the Declaration of Independence in Roman numerals - MDCCLXXVI – 1776.
Eight symbols representative of the number 13 which represent our 13 original American colonies:
13 stars in the constellation - in the shape of a hexagram – a new state taking its rank among other powers in the world
13 stripes on the shield (7white and 6 red) – shield represents out of many, one
13 arrows in the eagles left talon (Sticks alone are easily broken, but sticks in a bundle are unbreakable)
13 letters in E pluribus unum
13 letters in Anuuit Coeptis
13 leaves on the olive branch
13 olives on the olive branch
13 levels of the pyramid
Glory: A glory is on both sides of the great seal. The glory is a symbol of providence (God) and is represented by rays of light.
Eye: The eye represents God overlooking our nation. Many cultures see the eye as divine.
Escutcheon (or shield): The shield is on the breast of an American eagle without any other supporters to show that the United States of America is independent and relies on itself.
Source: The Great Seal of the United States of America. [On-line]. Available URL: http://www.greatseal.com