No. 263 - THE AMAZING ONE-DOLLAR BILL

No. 263

Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN

THE AMAZING ONE-DOLLAR BILL

Have you ever read or heard the story of the amazing one-dollar bill? A reader sent this to me a few days ago and while the author is unknown, it is information that definitely needs to be made available to the American people. The one dollar bill 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 fibers running through it. It is actually material. Weve 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 the balance, to symbolize a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenters T-square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the key to the United States Treasury. Thats all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know. As 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 the 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 and the vast Western part of our nation was still relatively unsettled. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished.

Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, the ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklins belief that one man couldnt 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. 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 and secondly, he wears no material crown. In the Eagles 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. Notice that the Eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in his talons. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace.

They say the number 13 is an unlucky number, 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 Eagles wing, 13 bars on the shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely 13 arrows. And for minorities: the 13th Amendment. This is the end of the article and it has really given me something to think about. I hope you have learned some things as well. We should never forget what our forefathers and our veterans have done for us so that we could remain a free nation. (Jim Davidson is a motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. You may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)