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Summary

Description

Interpretation of the first committee's design for the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States in 1776, which was never used. This was Benjamin Franklin's design, originally suggested for the obverse, but the committee chose Pierre Eugene du Simitiere's design for that side. This interpretation was made in 1856 by Benson J. Lossing.

Franklin's design was:

Moses standing on the Shore, and extending his Hand over the Sea, thereby causing the same to overwhelm Pharaoh who is sitting in an open Chariot, a Crown on his Head and a Sword in his Hand. Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Clouds reaching to Moses, to express that he acts by Command of the Deity. Motto, "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God."

Thomas Jefferson, a member of the committee, liked the motto enough to later use it on his personal seal.
Date
Source

Extracted from PDF version of Symbols of the Great Seal poster, part of a U.S. Diplomacy Center (State Department) exhibition on the 225th anniversary of the Great Seal. Direct PDF URL [1] (18MB)
Scanned from The Eagle and the Shield by Patterson and Dougall, page 21

Originally printed in The New Harper's Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 74, July 1856, page 180, article Great Seal of the United States by Benson J. Lossing
Author
Benson John Lossing  (1813–1891)  wikidata:Q4890263 s:en:Author:Benson John Lossing
 
Benson John Lossing
Alternative names
Benson J. Lossing; Benson Lossing
Description American journalist, historian and writer
Date of birth/death 12 February 1813 Edit this at Wikidata 3 June 1891 Edit this at Wikidata
Location of birth/death Beekman Edit this at Wikidata Dover Plains, New York
Authority file
creator QS:P170,Q4890263
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 The U.S. Diplomacy Center exhibition page states All materials in this exhibition are in the public domain and can be reproduced without permission. Citation of this source is appreciated.

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Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current13:39, 12 March 2012Thumbnail for version as of 13:39, 12 March 20121,480 × 1,480 (518 KB)AnonMooslosslessly cropping
08:22, 17 December 2008Thumbnail for version as of 08:22, 17 December 20081,519 × 1,530 (526 KB)Clindberg==Summary== {{Information |Description=Interpretation of the first committee's design for the reverse of the w:Great Seal of the United States in 1776, which was never used. This was Benjamin Franklin's design, originally suggested for the obverse,

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