Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself (which is in the keeping of the U.S. Secretary of State), and more generally for the design represented upon it. The Great Seal was first publicly used in 1782.

Related Topics:
United States - Seal - U.S. Secretary of State - 1782

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though the United States has never adopted any "national coat of arms", the image from the obverse of the great seal is often used informally as national arms, and is used on state documents such as passports in this capacity. The description below refers to colored representations of the seal as often seen; the physical Great Seal itself, as affixed to paper, is of course monochrome.

Related Topics:
Coat of arms - Passport - Monochrome

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~