|
On July the 4th, 1776, Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as a committee to prepare a device for the great seal of the United States.
The committee reported various devices during several years. William Barton, of Philadelphia, was appointed to submit designs. Sir John Prestwich, an English antiquarian, suggested a design to John Adams in 1779.
Combining the various designs of William Barton and John Prestwich, a seal was adopted on June the 20th, 1782. Arms: Paleways of thirteen pieces argent and gules; a chief azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows; and in his beak a scroll with the motto: E Pluribus Unum. Crest: a glory breaking through a cloud proper and surrounding thirteen stars. Reverse: A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory proper, over the eye the words, Annuit Coeptis. Beneath the pyramid, MDCCLXXVI, and the words, Novus Ordo Seculorum.
 Research Seal of the United States
The shilling is the currency of Kenya.
English Shillings were first struck in 1504 of 925 (sterling) silver. In 1919 the English shilling was reduced to silver of a 500 fineness and in 1947 they ceased to be made of silver at all.
In America shillings were first issued from the mint at Boston. Its coins were of the value of 12d, 6d and 3d pieces, and 'every shilling weighing the three-penny trojweight and lesser peeces proportionably'. The first struck were mere planchets stamped near the border NE, and on the reverse the value indicated by XII, similarly impressed. The first struck were known as the New England Shilling and these were followed by the Willow Tree, Oak Tree and Pine Tree coins. Their weight was 72 grains, and their value 18.25 cents. The tree coins all bore the same date, the Pine Tree being the most conspicuous.
Maryland also, in 1659, had shillings coined in London by Lord Baltimore; their weight was 66 grains, and their value 16.73 cents. They bore a profile bust of Lord Baltimore, an escutcheon with his arms and the figure XII denoting the value.
There was also the Bermuda shilling or Hogge penny, one of the earliest coins used in America.
As money of account the shilling, like the pound varied much in value from colcuy to colony. In New England and Virginia the shilling equalled, in 1790, a sixth part of the Spanish or Mexican silver dollar; in New York and North Carolina an eighth; in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland two-fifteenths; in South Carolina and Georgia three-fourteenths.
Research Shilling
In heraldry an abatement is a mark of dishonour on an escutcheon.
Research Abatement
In heraldry, the abyss is the centre of an escutcheon.
Research Abyss
In heraldry, an ailette (or emerass) is a small escutcheon which was fixed to the shoulders of armed knights. They were made of steel and introduced during the reign of Edward I, forming the origin of the modern epaulette.
Research Ailette
In heraldry, amethyst is a purple colour in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.
Research Amethyst
In heraldry, ashen keys is the name given to the seed-vessels of the ash tree when represented upon an escutcheon.
Research Ashen Keys
In heraldry, at gaze describes figures of the stag, hart, buck or hind represented with the face turned directly to the front on an escutcheon.
Research At Gaze
In heraldry, a bearing is any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms.
In heraldry, a chausse denotes a section in base: the line by which it is formed proceeding from the extremity of the base, and ascending to the side of the escutcheon, where it meets about the fesse point.
Research Chausse
|
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
|
|
|
Abbreviations
