Meaning of Emblems on United States Dollar Bill?

Answer 1

-- The Dollar Bill & Its Meaning --

Take out a one dollar bill and look at it.

The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its
present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and
linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is
actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A special
blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is with overprinted
symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to
give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury
Seal. On the top you will see the scales for balance - a balanced budget.

In the center you have a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for a even cut.
Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty
easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something
we should all know.

If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together,
comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress
requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal.
It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get
it approved. If you look at the left hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice
the face is lighted and the western side is dark.

This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or
decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to
being finished Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient
symbol for divinity.

It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men,
with the help of God, could do anything. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this
currency.

The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means "God has favored
our undertaking."

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means "a new
order has begun."

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that
it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade
of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery and is the
centerpiece of most hero's monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of
the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he
speaks, yet no one knows what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: first,
he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong and he is smart enough to soar above
it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King
of England.

Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own.
At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying
factor. We were coming together as one nation.

In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM," meaning "one
nation from many people."

Above the Eagle you have thirteen stars representing the thirteen original
colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.

Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his
talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but
we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace.

The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze
turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide
belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or
motels with a 13th floor. But, think about this:

13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in the Latin above,
13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum",
13 stars above the Eagle,
13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows.
And for minorities: the 13th Amendment.