by Jay Moody

Created on: May 16, 2008   Last Updated: February 14, 2011

            The United States’ one dollar bill is one of the most talked about pieces of currency in the world.  The intriguing Enlightenment imagery of the Great Seal on the back of the dollar is cause for much curiosity and speculation.  This has been a discussion amongst fans of the occult for decades, but the recent success of the movie “National Treasure” has brought the subject to the attention of popular culture.  The true meanings behind the symbolism of the Great Seal on the dollar bill, while having a great depth of meaning is not so mysterious.  

The Great Seal of the United States consists of a bald eagle spread with 13 arrows held tightly in his left talon. His right talon clutches an olive branch with thirteen leaves. Supported on the eagle's breast is an escutcheon or shield containing a representation of the United States Flag-a blue field and 13 alternating red and white stripes. In his mouth he carries a banner which contains the Latin Phrase "E pluribus Unum." Above his head is a radiant six-pointed star composed of 13 five-pointed stars.

The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States was adopted from interaction with Native Americans. Many traditional Native American communities have considered the bald eagle the most sacred of all birds and a symbol of the Creator. The founders of the United States in imitation of their Indian neighbors adopted the bald eagle as the greatest symbol of freedom and liberty and the highest aspirations of the new nation.  The escutcheon resting on the eagle's chest contains the symbol of the American flag.

There is a lot of emphasis placed on the repetition of the number 13 on the Great Seal because it represents the 13 original American colonies that rebelled against Britain, becoming the United States. The Latin motto "E pluribus Unum" translates as "Out of many, One" illustrating the Union formed by these 13 original States. The United States is after all, many states which make up a single nation.

The arrows and the olive branch held in the eagle’s talons represent two diametrically opposing principles that help to establish and maintain a nation; war and peace. The symbol of the arrows held together was adopted from the Iroquois Confederacy which influenced much of American democracy.  The Iroquois used the image of seven arrows which represented the seven different 'tribes' who

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