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The Pyramid on the US Dollar Bill: Deciphering Its Historical and Symbolic Significance

May 7, 2024May 4, 2024 gags

Ever glanced at a US dollar bill and noticed there’s an Egyptian pyramid on it? Yes, that mystic symbol right on the back of the one-dollar note. Ever wonder what it’s doing there? Let’s probe into this intriguing symbol and unravel why an ancient Egyptian pyramid has secured a spot on one of the most widely used currencies in the world.

The Symbolism Behind the Design

To start, the pyramid isn’t just any pyramid—it’s an emblem of strength and durability. The founding fathers of the United States were big on symbolism. They wanted the new country to be seen as strong, lasting, and resilient, much like the pyramids, which have stood the test of time for thousands of years. But it’s not just about the pyramid itself; it’s about what it represents on the dollar bill.

The Great Seal

This pyramid is actually a part of the Great Seal of the United States. Yes, there’s more to it than the pyramid. There’s also an eye within a triangle atop the pyramid, known as the Eye of Providence, which symbolizes divine guidance, suggesting that the new nation was under the watchful eye of a higher power. The incomplete nature of the pyramid (it’s missing its top) is especially telling, signifying that the United States was still a work in progress at the time of the seal’s design. It reflects the idea that the country was still growing and evolving.

A Closer Look at the Elements

Breaking it down, every element of this symbol on the dollar bill has meaning. The pyramid itself is made of 13 layers of stones, which represent the original 13 colonies. The year 1776 in Roman numerals is at the base of the pyramid, marking the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the nation.

Around the pyramid, there are Latin phrases. “Annuit Coeptis” means “Providence has favored our undertakings,” and “Novus Ordo Seclorum” translates to “New Order of the Ages.” These phrases encapsulate the optimism and vision of the founding fathers for the new nation they were building.

The Choice of an Egyptian Pyramid

But why specifically an Egyptian pyramid, beyond its symbolism of strength and endurance? The answer lies in the fascination with ancient civilizations during the 18th century, particularly among the educated elite. Many of America’s founding fathers were well-read and deeply influenced by history and philosophy. They saw in Ancient Egypt a civilization that had achieved greatness in governance, architecture, and knowledge, which they aspired to emulate in the budding United States. The pyramid, an enduring marvel of ancient engineering, was the perfect symbol for their aspirations of building a lasting legacy.

A Message for the Ages

Interestingly, this symbol on the dollar bill carries a message not just about the past and the founding ideals of the United States, but also about the future. The incomplete pyramid, the ever-watchful eye—it all suggests an ongoing journey toward perfection, guiding the nation’s path forward.

In a way, the dollar bill serves as a mini-history lesson, a reminder of where the United States came from and where it aspires to go. It’s a call to its citizens to continue the work of building a society that lives up to the lofty ideals at its foundation—liberty, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness.

Why It Matters Today

These days, in a world of digital transactions and cryptocurrencies, the physical dollar bill might seem a bit old-fashioned. But these symbols, etched in ink and paper, carry the weight of history and the promise of the future. They’re a testament to the founding fathers’ vision of a nation under guidance, constantly striving to better itself.

The next time you hold a dollar bill, take a moment to appreciate the pyramid and its layers of meaning. It’s not just currency; it’s a piece of American identity, a blend of ancient wisdom and new world aspirations. It serves as a reminder that the principles of strength, resilience, and divine providence are timeless, guiding the nation through past challenges and lighting the way forward.

Final Thoughts

So, the Egyptian pyramid on the US dollar bill is much more than an artistic choice. It’s a deeply symbolic element that reflects the founding ideals of the United States—strength, endurance, and divine guidance. It stands as a tribute to the nation’s past, a representation of its present, and a beacon for its future. In this little symbol lies the heart of American history and the spirit of its people, enduring through the ages, just like the pyramids on the banks of the Nile.

Amusing

Secret Message Discovered On The One-Dollar Bill

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Why Is A Dollar Called A ‘Buck’?

January 8, 2017January 7, 2017 gags

In colonial times in USA, traders used deer’s skin as a mean of payment. That’s why a dollar is called a “buck”.

As with many etymologies, the exact root of this word is difficult to say with one hundred percent certainty. However, the leading theory is extremely plausible and backed up by a fair bit of documented evidence. Specifically, it is thought that a dollar is called a “buck” thanks to deer.

One of the earliest references of this was in 1748, about 44 years before the first U.S. dollar was minted, where there is a reference to the exchange rate for a cask of whiskey traded to Native Americans being “5 bucks”, referring to deerskins.

In yet another documented reference from 1748, Conrad Weiser, while traveling through present day Ohio, noted in his journal that someone had been “robbed of the value of 300 Bucks.”

At this time, a buck skin was a common medium of exchange. There is also evidence that a “buck” didn’t simply mean one deerskin, but may have meant multiple skins, depending on quality. For instance, skins from deer killed in the winter were considered superior to those killed in the summer, due to the fur being thicker.

It is thought that the highest quality skins were generally assigned a one to one value with one skin equaling one buck. In contrast, for lower quality skins, it might take several of them to be valued at a single buck. The specific value for given sets of skins was then set at trading.

In addition, when the skin was from another animal, the number of skins required to equal a buck varied based on the animal and the quality of the skins. For instance, there is one documented trade where six high quality beaver skins or twelve high quality rabbit pelts each equaled one buck.

This use of skins as a medium of exchange gradually died off over the next century as more and more Europeans moved in and built towns and cities. Once the U.S. dollar was officially introduced after the passing of the Coinage Act of 1792, it quickly became the leading item used as a medium of exchange, but the term “buck” stuck around and by the mid-nineteenth century was being used as a slang term for the dollar.

Bonus Fact:

While it may be tempting to think that the “buck” in this sense is where we also get the phrase “pass the buck”, most etymologists don’t think the two are related. The leading theory on the origin of the phrase “pass the buck” is thought to come from poker, with one of the earliest known references of the idea of literally passing a buck being found in the 1887 work by J.W. Keller, titled “Draw Poker”. In it, Keller states:

The ‘buck’ is any inanimate object, usually knife or pencil, which is thrown into a jack pot and temporarily taken by the winner of the pot. Whenever the deal reaches the holder of the ‘buck,’ a new jack pot must be made.

As to why it is then called a buck, it is thought that may have arisen from the fact that buck-handled knives were once common and knives were often used as the “buck” in this sense. As for the figurative sense of passing the buck, this didn’t start popping up until the early twentieth century.

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