The One-Dollar Bill Information on the one-dollar bill that everyone should know. Take a moment, pull 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 overprinted with 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 an 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 would 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 of Ra, an ancient Egyptian 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 the Deist’s God (not the Christian God), could do anything. “IN GOD WE TRUST” is on this currency. It was added by during the anti-communist era in 1957 to distinguish the U.S. from “godless” communism. According to the Supreme Court, the “GOD” is not one of any particular religion, but is representative of every religions’ gods. Above the pyramid is the Latin “ANNUIT CŒPTIS”, adapted from Vergil’s Aeneid IX:625, means “God (Jupiter) has favored our undertaking.” Below the pyramid the Latin “NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM”, adapted from Vergil’s Eclogues IV:5, means “a new secular order has begun.” Secular, because the United States government is areligious, it endeavors to be disentangled in matters of faith and allow each citizen to follow his or her own reverent devotion. Without interference of the government. Without the exaltation of any particular religion by the government, nor the persecution of any religion by the government. The United States protects the freedom of religion, freedom from religion, and separation of church and state. 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 monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet few know 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 the Latin “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, meaning “out of many [people], one [nation].” Above the Eagle you have thirteen shining stars representing the thirteen original colonies, and the 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 rarely 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, one from each of the 13 original colonies * 13 stripes on our flag, representing the 13 original colonies, red for the blood shed, white for the peace desired * 13 steps on the Pyramid, representing the foundation of the 13 original colonies * 13 letters in the Latin ANNUIT CŒPTIS (the “Œ” is a two-letter ligature of “OE”), selected on purpose * 13 letters in the Latin E PLURIBUS UNUM, selected on purpose * 13 stars above the Eagle, representing the 13 original colonies * 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle’s wing, representing the 13 original colonies * 13 bars on that shield, representing the 13 original colonies united in defense * 13 leaves on the olive branch, representing the 13 original colonies desire for peace * 13 fruits, representing the prosperity of the 13 original colonies * 13 arrows, if you look closely, representing the united 13 colonies prepared to fight for the common defense * And for minorities: the 13th Amendment. I always ask people, “Why don’t you know this?” Your children don’t know this and their history teachers don’t know this. Too may veterans have given up too much, to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn’t care. Too many veterans never came home at all. Tell everyone what is on the back of the one-dollar bill and what it stands for, because nobody else will.
