Thirteen stars appear on the Great Seal of the United States.
The stars form a constellation above the eagle’s head on the obverse, symbolizing the thirteen original states. The seal also includes an olive branch with thirteen leaves and thirteen olives, as well as thirteen arrows. The repeated number connects the national emblem to the states that declared independence from Britain.
The Great Seal was adopted by Congress on June 20, 1782, after several committees and years of design work. Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, submitted the final design, which incorporated elements proposed by earlier committees.
The eagle holds the olive branch in its right talon and the arrows in its left, traditionally expressing a preference for peace while retaining the ability to defend the nation. The seal is not the same as the national flag: the flag’s stars currently number fifty, while the seal’s stars remain thirteen because they represent the original states.