Great Seal of the United States - Rediscover America's Original Vision

Welcome to GreatSeal.com
Here students of America can learn the true story of the emblem
created by the founders of the United States to symbolize their
revolutionary new nation to the world – and to the future.
(Website contents below.)
OVERVIEW
The only preliminary drawings of the final design for the Great Seal:
Barton's & Thomson's drawings. (Barton's rejected mottoes not shown.)
Artwork by William Barton (May 1782) and Charles Thomson (June 1782)
After these were drawn, some revisions were made:
• A triangle was placed around the eye of providence.
• A date was inscribed on the base of the pyramid.
• Two mottoes were chosen for the pyramid side.
• The shield's stripes were changed to vertical.

But no new drawings were made.
And no artwork was submitted to Congress.
The official Great Seal of the United States adopted on June 20, 1782
is in the form of a written description only.

The first die of the Great Seal was created in Sept. 1782.
It had errors, as did subsequent dies. The U.S. government's most
accurate version of the Great Seal is the Centennial Medal of 1882:
Great Seal Centennial Medal of 1882
Some of the finest examples of the eagle side are on the back of
the Indian Peace Medals given by President Washington in the 1790s.
Illustrations of a seal are called "realizations."
The first realizations and first color painting were done in 1786.
U.S. Department of State's current realizations:
U.S. Department of State realizations of the Great Seal
The Great Seal's designers provided a brief explanation of its symbolism,
however, the more we know about its creation and the meaning
of its symbols and its mottoes, the better we can understand
why this emblem is as important today as ever before.

This includes separating fact from fiction. Unfortunately, most Americans know very little about the symbol that represents them and their nation, and what they do know is often incorrect. First of all, the Great Seal is not a monetary symbol. Neither is it a masonic symbol.

REDISCOVER AMERICA
Main sections of the site's 76 pages
Preliminary DESIGNS
America's founders set out to create a symbol worthy of their new nation. See the ideas suggested by three committees. The story begins on July 4, 1776.

Individual Design Elements:
SYMBOLS on the Great Seal
Each side's dynamic imagery combines symbols from nature and history. See how they got on the seal. (Navigate with a clickable image map.)

Great Seal MOTTOES
Chosen to convey the idea and ideals of America, these three little phrases have big repercussions. Find out their origin and meaning.

Issues Relevant Today:
MYTH & Misinformation
Is the emblem of America becoming a casualty of lore? Separate fact from fiction. Reclaim your heritage.

PEACE is Patriotic
The American Eagle on the Great Seal has always looked toward the olive branch. See why "the power of peace" is a founding principle.

Great Seal SIGHTINGS
American symbols in the news, wise and otherwise.

How the Great Seal got on the one-dollar bill in 1935.

Find out how seals are used.

Look on the bright side of America.

VISIT the Great Seal Gift Shop for T-Shirts and Posters.
In its 10th year, GreatSeal.com is created and ©2008 by John D. MacArthur.
Content is based on the official history of the U.S. Seal.

NOTICE: Historical and current government realizations of the Great Seal displayed on this website are not intended to convey an impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States.