One Dollar Bill Secrets

We gather from the Eagle stamp, the two words E PLURIBUS UNUM, across the two scrolls, and from the Pyramid stamp, the words ANNUIT COEPETIS and NOVUS ORDO SECLOHUM, and well as Roman Numerals traced along the bottom of the Pyramid itself, forming MDCCLXXVI.


E pluribus unum was suggested by the committee Congress appointed on July 4, 1776 to design "a seal for the United States of America." The below sketch of their design accompanied a detailed description of their idea for the new nation's official emblem.

The general meaning of each Latin word is clear:
Pluribus is related to the English word: "plural."
Unum is related to the English word: "unit."

E Pluribus Unum describes an action: Many uniting into one. An accurate translation of the motto is "Out of many, one" – a phrase that elegantly captures the symbolism on the shield.
The meaning of this motto is better understood when seen in its original classical context.

• NOVUS means new, young, novel, or renewed.
• ORDO means order, row, or series.
• SECLORUM means ages, generations, or centuries. 

ANNUIT COEPTIS – Origin and Meaning
of the Motto Above the Eye

Annuit coeptis is the Latin motto suggested in 1782 by Charles Thomson, the Founding Father chosen by Continental Congress to come up with the final design for the Great Seal of the United States.
On June 20, 1782, Congress approved Thomson's design for both sides of the Great Seal whose official description for the reverse side specifies:

"A Pyramid unfinished. In the Zenith an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory proper. Over the Eye these words 'Annuit Cœptis'."

Although Thomson did not provide an exact translation of the motto, he explained its meaning in conjunction with the Eye of Providence in a triangle surrounded by light rays in the zenith of an unfinished pyramid:

"The Eye over it & the motto Annuit Coeptis allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favour of the American cause."

"Signal" means unusual, notable, outstanding: to give a sign.
"Interposition" means intervention: to insert between.

Translating ANNUIT COEPTIS

• ANNUIT means to nod assent, to favor, to smile upon.
• COEPTIS means undertakings, endeavors, beginnings.

Annuit coeptis means "favors (lit., gives the nod to) undertakings." The subject must be supplied. Who favors? The Eye (Providence) does.
The verb annuit can be either present tense or perfect tense, therefore an accurate translation of the motto is: "Providence favors our undertakings" or "Providence has favored our undertakings." (The word "our" is supplied.)

It has also been translated as: "He favors our undertakings" or "He has prospered our endeavors."
The meaning of this motto is better understood when seen in its original classical context.