Great Seal of the United States - Official National Emblem #249914 (License: Personal Use)

This black-and-white line drawing illustrates the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States, adopted in 1782. It features a bald eagle clutching an olive branch and thirteen arrows, symbolizing peace and readiness for war, with a shield on its breast representing Congress and the original states. Above the eagle is a radiant constellation of thirteen stars encircled by the motto “Annuit Cœptis” (“He [God] has favored our undertakings”), and a banner in its beak reads “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of many, one”).

Used on official U.S. government documents, passports, and diplomatic correspondence; this image serves educational, historical, and civic contexts-supporting user intent to learn about national symbols, federal authority, or American heritage.