re. E PLULIBUS UNIUM in the Great Seal of the United States.

Mr. Kobayashi,

Thank you for submitting your question on the History Hub!

The phrase 'E Pluribus Unum' is a Latin phrase that when translated to English means "Out of many, one." Up until the 1950s, 'E Pluribus Unum' was the traditional motto for the United States government dating back the American Revolution when it was first used on coins dating as early as 1795. An engraver and artist named Pierre Eugene du Simitiere proposed the phrase while he and other members of a committee were designing the first Great Seal. 'E pluribus unum' was also used on the Great Seal along with Latin phrases 'Annuit coeptis' meaning 'He approves the undertaking' and 'Novus ordo seclorum' meaning 'New order of the age.'

'E Pluribus unum' was a de facto motto for the U.S. government until the 1950s. In 1956, Congress passed H.J. Resolution 396 which established the United State's official motto 'In God We Trust.'

Thank you for using the History Hub and good luck with your research!

Hello, Mr. Kobayashi,

Just to add a quick note to Thomas Richardson's response - The State Department has a history of the Great Seal on its website: Great Seal.

Good luck!