The Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is a testament to the United States's status as an independent, self-governing nation composed of free people. Its primary purposes are to authorize several federal documents issued by the government such as passports, flags, and military insignias and to serve as the national coat of arms. Elements of the design also became a foundation for the creation of other government agency and state seals.

On July 4, 1776, when the United States of America formally declared its independence from Great Britain, the Continental Congress issued the challenge of designing a seal for the country to Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson. An official symbol of sovereignty was imperative in order to establish America's legitimacy as an autonomous state. It would take six years, three committees, and the efforts of fourteen men, however, before a design for the seal was approved by the Congress on June 20, 1782.

The First Committee consisted of Franklin, Adam, and Jefferson whose focus was to translate principles and ideals into graphic symbols. They acquired the help of Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, a talented artist who knew some knowledge of heraldry (the art of blazoning armorial bearings) and experience in drawing seals. The final design included four key features: the Eye of Providence, the date of independence (MDCCLXXVI), the shield, and the Latin motto, E Pluribus Unum (Out of many, one). The Congress rejected the approval of their design when they submitted it in August 20, 1776. On March 1780, the Congress selected a new second committee which was composed of James Lovell, John Morin Scott, and William Churchill Houston. With the help of Francis Hopkinson, who had designed the American flag and the great seal of the State of New Jersey, the second committee contributed to the final design by adding in elements such as the thirteen red and white stripes, the constellation of thirteen six-pointed stars, and the olive branch. Once again, Congress rejected the proposal and issued another committee in May 1782 for the task. Barton of Philadelphia, a young lawyer who was talented in art and had some knowledge of heraldry, contributed the most to the design, adding in a small crested white eagle holding a small flag, a 13-step unfinished pyramid, and the Eye of Providence. Although Barton's design did not become official, his collaboration with Charles Thompson's eventually produced a seal that was accepted in June 20, 1782. Barton and Thompson utilized information and elements from all the models that the other three committees produced.

The final device reflects the beliefs and values that the founding fathers wanted to pass on to the generations. The obverse side of the seal is dominated by the presence of the country's national bird, holding a bunch of arrows in the left and an olive branch in the right. The olive branch and the arrows symbolized the power