My son Keith had rather give up a dollar payment in
change, rather than part with a bill. He loves holding on to the
"Bills".
In this article we are are going to closely examine bills especially
the "One Dollar Bill". We have all seen or heard about the new bills.
The Fifty's and the Hundred's that look more like Monoply money than
legal currency and accepted medium of exchange. As Bogus as the new
bills may appear, they are a sign of change in U.S. Curency.
A Close Look at Money!
Think about the last time you bought something with a one-dollar
bill.
Did you stop to look at the words and pictures on the bill as you
handed it to the clerk? Probably not. Most everyone can easily
identify a one-dollar bill. It has the numeral 1 in the corners and
George Washington's picture on the front.
But can you (without looking) describe what is on the back of a
one-dollar bill? That's much harder. If you don't remember, get a
one-dollar bill and we'll take a look.
On the back of the bill are two circles with some rather strange
pictures and writing inside them. These two circles are the front and
back of the Great Seal of the United States. Many countries have an
official seal or stamp that is used on government documents.
In 1776, the Continental Congress decided that the new country of the
United States needed an official seal. They appointed a committee
headed by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to
design the seal.
It took six years to create the Great Seal of the United States. Why
so long? The committee wanted the seal to be very special. They felt
that the seal should remind future generations of how the first 13
colonies struggled to gain freedom. They wanted the seal to symbolize
the power and authority of the United States of America.
Just for fun, use a magnifying glass to examine the Great Seal on the
back of your one-dollar bill. The circle on the left with the
unfinished pyramid is the back of the seal. The circle on the right
with the bald eagle is the face of the seal. If you look very
closely, you will find many sets of 13 objects in the Great Seal. For
example, there are 13 stars in the "cloud burst" above the eagle's
head. Each set of 13 symbolizes the original 13 colonies. Now set a
timer for five minutes. See how many sets of 13 objects you can find
in the two circles on the back of your one-dollar bill. When you are
finished, compare your answers with those printed below.
13 stars in the "cloud burst" above the eagle's head
13 stripes in the shield on the eagle's breast
13 berries on the olive branch in the eagle's right claw
13 leaves on the olive branch in the eagle's right claw
13 arrows in the eagle's left claw
13 letters in the motto on the ribbon in the eagle's beak
13 rows of stones in the unfinished pyramid
13 letters in the Latin motto above the pyramid
If you would like more information about the words and symbols on our
coins and bills, request the pamphlet "Fundamental Facts about United
States Money" from the Public Information Dept., Federal Reserve Bank
of Atlanta, 104 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-2713.
Bonnie Drew is the author of FAST CASH FOR KIDS and MONEYSKILLS. Both
books may be ordered from Career Press, (800) 955-7373. Mention the
Dream Merchant when you call.
Reprinted by permission from Dream Merchant Magazine
(August/September 1995)
