What national emblem did the Continental Congress adopt on June 20, 1782?
Answer
Great Seal of the United States
The Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782.
Congress began seeking a national seal on July 4, 1776, the same day it adopted the Declaration of Independence. Three committees and six years of work preceded approval of the final design. Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, assembled major elements, while William Barton contributed heraldic details.
The seal’s obverse shows an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, representing peace and war. A shield with 13 stripes appears on the eagle’s breast. The reverse includes an unfinished pyramid, an Eye of Providence, and the Roman numerals for 1776.
The Great Seal is not identical to the national flag or the presidential seal. Its official impression authenticates certain federal documents. The first brass die was used in September 1782 for a document concerning the exchange of prisoners.