On what date did the United States adopt its Great Seal?

The United States adopted its Great Seal on June 20, 1782.

The Continental Congress approved the final design after several committees and years of discussion. Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson presented the adopted design, which included an eagle on the obverse and a pyramid with an eye on the reverse. The seal authenticated official documents issued by the federal government.

The eagle holds an olive branch and arrows, symbolizing a preference for peace but readiness for war. The pyramid has thirteen levels, and the Roman numerals MDCCLXXVI at its base represent 1776, the year of independence. These elements later appeared on the one-dollar bill, although the seal itself was not created for currency.

The Great Seal is sometimes confused with the national coat of arms or the presidential seal. They are related national symbols but are not identical. Its 1782 adoption places it in the Revolutionary-era transition before the Constitution took effect.