E pluribus unum facts for kids

E pluribus unum is part of the Great Seal of the United States, which was one of the nation's mottos when the seal was created.

E pluribus unum (pronounced ee PLUURR-ih-bəs OO-nəm) is a famous Latin phrase. It means "out of many, one" or "one out of many." This motto has been very important to the United States for a long time. You can see it on the Great Seal, which is a special symbol of the country.

For many years, E pluribus unum was like the unofficial motto of the U.S. Later, in 1956, the U.S. Congress officially chose "In God We Trust" as the national motto. The phrase E pluribus unum has thirteen letters. This is a special symbol for the original Thirteen Colonies that came together to form the United States. These colonies are also represented by the thirteen stripes on the American flag.

Original 1776 design for the Great Seal by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere. It shows shields with the initials of the 13 colonies, surrounded by symbols of six founding nations, all linked with the motto.

The idea behind "out of many, one" is that many different states or groups can come together to create a single, strong nation. This motto is written on a scroll held by an eagle on the Great Seal of the United States.

What Does "E Pluribus Unum" Mean?

The phrase E pluribus unum perfectly describes how the United States began. It means that from many separate parts—the original Thirteen Colonies—a single, united country was formed. This idea of unity from diversity is a core value of the nation.

You can find this important motto on the front side of the Great Seal of the United States. This image is used as the national emblem and appears on many official documents, like passports. It is also featured on the seals of the President, Vice President, United States Congress, and the United States Supreme Court.

How the Motto Was Chosen

The idea for the 13-letter motto came in 1776 from a man named Pierre Eugene du Simitiere. He suggested it to the committee that was designing the Great Seal. At that time, the phrase was often seen on the cover of The Gentleman's Magazine, a popular publication in London that collected articles from many different sources into one magazine. This showed how many different ideas could be brought together into one place.

"E Pluribus Unum" on U.S. Coins

The reverse side of a Draped Bust half dollar coin from 1807, showing the motto.

Dime E pluribus unum engraving
Obverse: A portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the year, and the U.S. national motto (In God We Trust).	Reverse: E pluribus unum, an olive branch, a torch, an oak branch, the coin's value, and the country.

The first coins to feature E pluribus unum were made in 1786 in New Jersey. These coins were authorized by the state. A person named Seth Read from Massachusetts is also said to have helped get the motto placed on U.S. coins.

Today, you can see E pluribus unum written in capital letters on most U.S. money. For example, it's on the back of the dime. It's also embossed, or raised, on the edge of dollar coins.

The U.S. Treasury states that the motto first appeared on U.S. coinage in 1795. This was on the back of the half-eagle ($5 gold) coin, which showed parts of the Great Seal. Over time, the motto was added to other gold and silver coins. In 1873, a law called the Coinage Act of 1873 made it a requirement for all U.S. coins to have this inscription.

All U.S. coins made today include E pluribus unum. For example, on presidential dollar coins (which started being made in 2007), it's on the edge along with "In God We Trust," the year, and the mint mark. In 2007, some one-dollar coins were accidentally made without E pluribus unum on the rim. These coins are now special items for collectors!

The pennies made in 2009 and 2010 have a new design on the back. On these pennies, the phrase E pluribus unum appears in larger letters than before.

Other Places You Might See It

This important motto isn't just on the Great Seal and coins. You can find it in many other places:

• U.S. Government: It appears above the tribune in the United States Senate chamber. It's also on the flags and seals of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the President, the Supreme Court, and the Army.
• State Flags: The motto is on the state flags of Michigan, New York, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• Sports: The United States Golf Association uses the motto in its logo. The Portuguese sports club Sport Lisboa e Benfica has used it on its emblem since 1904. Their emblem also features a shield and an eagle holding a scroll with the motto.
• Arts and Media:

* In the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard uses the motto to describe his and Dorothy's home state of Kansas. * The popular TV show Stranger Things had an episode in its third season titled "E Pluribus Unum." This title referred to the main monster of the season, which was formed from many different bodies. * After the September 11 attacks in 2001, a public service announcement (PSA) showed diverse people saying "I Am an American." At the end, the phrase E pluribus unum appeared with its English translation.

Images for kids

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  The coat of arms for Mongaguá, Brazil, features the motto.

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  The emblem of the Estonian Scouts Battalion also uses this motto.

See also

In Spanish: E pluribus unum para niños

• Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
• List of Latin phrases
• List of national mottos
• List of U.S. state and territory mottos
• United we stand, divided we fall