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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 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 a balanced
budget. In the center you have a carpenter's
square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath
is the Key to the United States.
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,
and 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 heroes' 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.
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Page created by:
"Twink's Ink"
August
2001
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