Within a beaded border, at centre the reverse of the coin shows the main part of the obverse (or front) of the Great Seal of the United States, which displays the full achievement of the national coat of arms. The design has the Union Shield at centre, legally blazoned as "paleways of 13 pieces, argent and gules; a chief, azure" (thirteen vertical stripes, white and red, with a blue horizontal bar on top). The colours are represented by heraldic hatching (thin lines indicating the colour - horizontal stripes for blue, vertical for red, no stripes for white). The supporter of the shield is a bald eagle with its wings outstretched (or "displayed", in heraldic terms). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of thirteen arrows in its left talon, and an olive branch with thirteen leaves in its right talon.
In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto E · PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of Many, One"). Over its head there appears a "glory" of 13 mullets (stars).
The recurring number 13 refers to the 13 original states. The arrows and olive branch together symbolise that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war". The eagle has its head turned towards the olive branch, to symbolise a preference for peace.
Around above, the name of the country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around below, the value and denomination: · QUARTER DOLLAR ·. |
