What was the official motto on the Great Seal of the United States?

The official motto on the Great Seal of the United States was E pluribus unum.

The Latin phrase means “Out of many, one,” expressing the idea that a single union emerged from separate states. It appears on the scroll held in the eagle's beak on the obverse design of the Great Seal. The seal was adopted on June 20, 1782, after several committees had worked on proposals since the Declaration of Independence.

E pluribus unum also appeared on United States coins and paper currency for much of the nation's history. Congress designated “In God We Trust” as the national motto in 1956, creating a frequent source of confusion. That later motto does not replace E pluribus unum on the Great Seal.

The seal's other Latin phrases are different as well. Annuit coeptis appears above the unfinished pyramid, while Novus ordo seclorum appears below it. Each phrase has its own position and meaning, so they are not interchangeable answers.