Francis Hopkinson's First Design for the Great Seal Reverse

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Description

In the spring of 1780, the second Great Seal committee consulted Francis Hopkinson, designer of the American flag and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His contributions to the final design include the 13 red and white stripes on the shield, the constellation of 13 stars, the 13 arrows, and the olive branch with 13 olives—all on the front of the seal.

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.

National Archives Identifier: 595256

Full Citation: Francis Hopkinson’s First Design for the Great Seal Reverse; 1780; Reports on Administrative Affairs of the Congress; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 – 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/hopkinson-design-seal/, February 28, 2026]

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