What does the eagle on the Great Seal hold?

The eagle on the Great Seal of the United States holds an olive branch in its right talon and 13 arrows in its left. The olive branch carries 13 olives and 13 leaves, representing peace; the cluster of 13 arrows represents war or, more broadly, the country's readiness and capacity to defend itself. The number 13 honors the original 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776 and ratified the Constitution between 1787 and 1790.

The eagle's head is turned toward the olive branch, signifying that the country prefers peace but is prepared for war, and the olive branch sits on the dexter (right) side, the position of greatest honor in heraldic design. The combination of olive branch and arrows is a classical motif drawn from the iconography of Pallas Athena and from earlier European royal seals; the specific American arrangement was finalized by Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, in his June 20, 1782 report adopting the design.

The Great Seal also includes a shield with 13 vertical red and white stripes (representing the colonies) and a blue chief (representing the federal government) covering the eagle's chest, a banner in the eagle's beak with the motto E Pluribus Unum (Out of many, one), and a glory of 13 stars on a blue field above the eagle's head. The number 13 recurs throughout: 13 stripes on the shield, 13 stars in the glory, 13 olive leaves, 13 olives, 13 arrows, 13 letters in E Pluribus Unum, 13 letters in Annuit Coeptis (the motto on the reverse), and 13 courses of the unfinished pyramid on the reverse.

The Great Seal is impressed by the Secretary of State on certain federal documents, including treaties and ambassadorial commissions, under 4 U.S.C. section 41. The eagle and shield design has been carried over to the Presidential Seal, the Vice President's seal, the seals of the executive departments, and the back of the dollar bill. Federal law (18 U.S.C. section 713) prohibits unauthorized use of the Seal for commercial or political purposes.