The U.S. Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States.

The Great Seal of the United States is one of the most iconic symbols of American sovereignty and authority, used to authenticate certain documents issued by the federal government. First adopted in 1782 after several committees and redesigns, the seal features a bald eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of thirteen arrows in the other. These elements represent the country’s desire for peace (olive branch) and its readiness for war (arrows), while the number thirteen symbolizes the original thirteen colonies. Above the eagle’s head is a cluster of thirteen stars forming a radiant constellation, emphasizing unity under a new nation.

On the eagle’s chest is a shield with thirteen red and white stripes topped with a blue chief, symbolizing Congress. Interestingly, the eagle’s head faces toward the olive branch, suggesting a preference for peace over conflict. The eagle also holds a banner in its beak with the Latin motto E Pluribus Unum, meaning “Out of many, one”—a reference to the union formed by the individual states. The design is full of layered meaning, blending classical symbolism with revolutionary ideals, and it was heavily influenced by neoclassical art and Enlightenment thinking.

The reverse side of the Great Seal, though rarely used, is even more esoteric. It features an unfinished pyramid with thirteen steps, topped by an eye within a triangle—the “Eye of Providence.” This side includes two Latin phrases: Annuit Cœptis (“He has favored our undertakings”) and Novus Ordo Seclorum (“A new order of the ages”), suggesting divine support for the American experiment and a break from old-world monarchies. While the front of the seal is used on official documents, the reverse appears most notably on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill, sparking all kinds of interpretations and conspiracy theories.