3-D Rendered Effect of the American Eagle Great Seal Symbol with E Pluribus Unum banner on copy of the US Constitution. A USA symbol of freedom and liberty in muted tones and 3-D effect. The Original great seal was first used publicly in 1782. The original design is the national coat of arms of the United States. It is officially used on documents such as United States passports, military insignia, embassy placards, and various flags. Since 1935, both sides of the Great Seal appear on the reverse of the one-dollar bill. The Seal of the President of the United States is directly based on the Great Seal, and its elements are used in numerous government agency and state seals. The heraldic shield is a bald eagle with its wings outstretched .It holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon, (referring to the 13 original states), and an olive branch in its right talon, together symbolising that the United States of America has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war." The olive branch is usually depicted with 13 leaves and 13 olives, again representing the 13 original states. The eagle has its head turned towards the olive branch, said to symbolise a preference for peace. In its beak, the eagle clutches the motto E pluribus unum ("Out of Many, One"). Over its head there appears a "glory" with 13 mullets (stars) on a blue field. In the current (and several previous) dies of the great seal, the 13 stars above the eagle are arranged in rows of 1-4-3-4-1, forming a six-pointed star.