presidential seal

[ship]

So which way does the eagle now face - towards the arrows or towards the olive branch? What's the signifigance of either and current status?

 

[erosing]

It always faces the olive branches, it never faces the arrows, even though people tend to think it changes during war and peace times.

 

[derekleffew]

This seal?

 

[cprted]

It always faces the olive branches, it never faces the arrows, even though people tend to think it changes during war and peace times.

Indeed. The US Presidential Seal had gone through several changes over the years, including a change in the direction the eagle faced around the time of one of the world wars (which is how this notion of it switching back and forth during war time supposedly got started). But yeah, towards the olive branch, unless you're doing a historical piece, then you'll have to look it up.

 

[Hughesie]

This seal?

Careful there derek, you starting to sound like a bit of a free spirit. And we can't have that around here

 

[dsm]

Indeed. The US Presidential Seal had gone through several changes over the years, including a change in the direction the eagle faced around the time of one of the world wars (which is how this notion of it switching back and forth during war time supposedly got started). But yeah, towards the olive branch, unless you're doing a historical piece, then you'll have to look it up.

Around the time of the first world war was when it switched direction I think, though there was another change around WWII, but I can't remember what the change actually was.