clenched in the eagle's beak. His was the first proposal in which the final design of the obverse can be seen.
In his design of the seal's reverse, Thomson retained the pyramid with the Eye of Providence in a triangle at the zenith and, as products of his Latin scholarship, introduced the mottos Annuit Coeptis (He [God] has favored our undertakings) over the eye and Novus Ordo Seclorum (A new order of the ages) beneath the pyramid. He gave his rough sketches and reports to Barton, depending on him to polish the designs.
The Final "Device"
Barton portrayed the eagle with its wings displayed, but with wing tips upward, and simplified Thomson's chevron arrangement of stripes on the shield. He arranged 13 vertical stripes, alternately white and red, below a rectangular blue "chief" (upper part of the shield). And he specified that the arrows in the eagle’s left talon should number 13.
The designs were returned to Thomson on June 19, 1782. He made a few alterations and overnight produced the "blazon" (written description) with accompanying “Remarks and Explanation" and presented them to the Continental Congress on June 20. The Congress acted the same day to adopt the report, which did not contain a drawing of either design.
Thus, nearly 6 years after establishment of the first committee, Charles Thomson and William Barton "brought in a device." The Great Seal of the United States was unique—simple and uncluttered, yet bold—the composite product of many minds.
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1782
- Lawyer William Barton's design for third committee combined white eagle, flag, and reverse side with 13-step pyramid and first committee's Eye of Providence.
