great seal with strange symbols updated

[fmerg]

ok found this today it was the only thing i found worth talking about
it is about 3" hight and broken on the right side
back is plain shows no sign of any type of connection
the thing i dont know about is the strange symbols around the 13 stars
mud(swat) has solved what it is (a watch fob)
and here is the best rendition of the symbols i could do
i think the symbols must mean something the do not appear on the official great seal
also there are only 8 arrows the official one has 13

ok folks this is a repro of the Tiffany & Co. steel die of 1885
was in use for only 17 years before it
had to be replaced due to wear.
it also was the only seal to use symbols in the clouds around the stars
the symbols have no meaning that has been reported

Great Seal of 1904 by Bailey Banks &
Biddle in Philadelphia.The engraver, Max
Zeitler, was instructed to reproduce 1885
die as exactly as possible.
the Great Seal of 1904 by Bailey Banks &
Biddle in Philadelphia.The engraver, Max
Zeitler, was instructed to reproduce 1885
die as exactly as possible.

Federal law does not allow anyone other then the government from using the great seal for any propose
thats the reason there are only 8 arrows

 

[ivan salis]

note the flat top line on the sheild -- helps in dating it.

 

[trikikiwi]

note the flat top line on the sheild -- helps in dating it.

Ivan, I love being edified - would you mind explaining to an ig nor ant Kiwi, what you mean
What era must it be?
Cheers, Mike

 

[DCMatt]

Any chance the symbols are Hebrew?

DCMatt

 

[ivan salis]

easy theres sharp or pointed top sheilds and flat topped sheilds ---one design is older than the other.

he's green checked it , end of show--move along folks.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I could be wrong about the "symbols," but they look like jibberish to me.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_United_States
I dont know how to date by the shield but here is the 1904 official version.



Heres the 1877 version:


I have a similar watch fob in my files.


On the dollar bill:



Just because the green check is up doesnt mean that anything cant be added to the thread.

 

[ivan salis]

glad you see the flat top sheild is "newer" post 1902 --the older one is "crested" or "pointed" the change occured in 1902 --so pre 1902 crested or "pointed" --post 1902 -- flat top on sheild design