A History lesson for
all.
Who Was Haym Solomon? History from a $1 Bill-Fascinating!
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United
States . The First
Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come
up with a Seal. It took those 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. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could
do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we
were not even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the
all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that
one man couldn't 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.
(MDCCLXXVI)
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 . It is also
on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery , and
is the centerpiece of most heroes' monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal
of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he
speaks, yet very few people know 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; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above
it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of
England . Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on
its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a
unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you
will read, ' E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning, 'from many - one.' Above the Eagle, you
have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen riginal colonies, and any
clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and
arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to
preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of
war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide
belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels
with a 13th floor. 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 'Annuit Coeptis,'
13 letters in 'E Pluribus Unum,'
13 stars above the Eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits, and if you look closely,
13 arrows.
And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand
circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David.
This was ordered by George Washington who,
when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a
personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he
wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people.
The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved
the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper. Haym Solomon
gave $25 million to the Continental Army, money that was extremely important to
our independence from England .
I always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?' Your children don't know this,
and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too
much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an
America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all..
I, for one, plan to share this page with everyone, so that they can learn
what is on the back of the UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands
for!