Great Seal（大纹章/国玺）and National Emblem

The Great Sealof the United States is used to authenticate（鉴定）certain documents issued by the US federal government, such as Untied States passports, military insignia（军徽）and embassy placards（大使馆标牌）.

The design on the front of the seal is the coat of arms of the United States, also known as the national emblem. It depicts a bald eagle with a shield of 13 alternatingred and white stripes representing the 13 original States on its breast. Across the top of the shield is a blue field that unites all the stripes into one. The blue chief represents the Unites States Congress. In his talons（爪） the eagle grasps an olive branch representing peace, and 13 arrows representing war, together symbolizing that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war." Above the eagle are 13 stars inside a circular（圆形的） design, representing a “New Constellation.” In his beak（鸟嘴） the eagle grasps a flowing ribbon bearing the motto E Pluribus Unum. These Latin words are translated as “Out of many, One”（合众为一）in English.

On the reverse ofthe Great Seal is an unfinished pyramid (金字塔), which consists 13 layers to refer to the 13 original states. On the top of the pyramid is the Eye of Providence（上帝之眼）watching over; On the base, it’s the date MDCCLXXVI (1776, the year of the United States Declaration ofIndependence) in Roman numbers. The pattern is surrounded by two mottos in Latin: Annuit cœptis and Novus ordo seclorum, which means "Providence has approved of our undertakings" and "a new order of the ages", respectively. The pattern of the back also appears on the back of the one-dollar bill.