Know Your Money

The Great Seal of the United States, adopted in 1782, appears on the back of the one dollar bill.

The front of the seal shows an American bald eagle behind our national shield. The eagle holds an olive branch-symbolizing peace-with 13 berries and 13 leaves. In the left talon, the eagle holds 13 arrows-symbolizing war. The 13 units represent the original colonies. The eagle's head is turned toward the olive branch showing a desire for peace

The top of the shield represents the Congress, the head of the eagle represents the Executive branch, and the nine tail feathers represent the Judiciary branch of our Government. The motto, E Pluribus Unum, on the ribbon held in the eagle's beak, means "Out of Many, One."

On the reverse of the seal is a pyramid with 1776 in Roman numerals at the base. The pyramid stands for permanence and strength, The pyramid is unfinished, signifying the United States' future growth and goal of perfection. A sunburst and an eye are above the pyramid standing for the Deity. The 13 letter motto, Annuit Coeptis, means "He Has Favored Our Undertakings." Below the pyramid the motto, Novus Ordo Seclorum, means "A New Order of the Ages," standing for the new American era.

The most recent major change in the design of our currency was the addition of the inscription, "ln God We Trust." In 1955 a law was passed which stated that thereafter all new designs for coin and currency would bear the inscription.