What Latin phrase became the traditional motto on the Great Seal of the United States?

E pluribus unum became the traditional motto on the Great Seal of the United States.

The Latin phrase means “Out of many, one.” It appears on the scroll held in the eagle’s beak on the obverse of the Great Seal. The motto expresses the idea that a single nation was formed from multiple states and peoples.

Congress approved the seal’s design on June 20, 1782. The eagle carries an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other, symbolizing a preference for peace but a readiness for defense. The shield has thirteen stripes, and the constellation above the eagle has thirteen stars.

E pluribus unum was used widely on U.S. coins and currency for centuries. “In God We Trust” became the official national motto in 1956, but E pluribus unum remains the traditional motto associated with the Great Seal and appears in the seal’s design.