from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, government. The seal used by the United States in
congress assembled, shall be the seal of the United States, viz.: ARMS,
pale-ways of thirteen pieces argent and gules; a chief azure; the escutcheon
on the breast of the American eagle displayer proper, holding in his dexter
talon, an olive branch, and in his sinister, a bundle of thirteen arrows,
all proper, and in his beak a scroll, inscribed with this motto, "E pluribus
unum." For the CREST: over the head of the eagle which appears above the
escutcheon, a glory, or breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding
thirteen stars, forming a constellation argent on an azure field. REVERSE, a
pyramid unfinished. In the zenith an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a
glory proper: over the eye, these words, "Annuit caeptis." On the base of
the pyramid, the numerical letters, MDCCLXXVI; and underneath, the following
motto, "Novus ordo seclorum." Resolution of Congress, June 20, 1782;
Gordon's Dig. art. 207.