The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 31, July 30, 2006, Article 12

REVIEW: HISTORY CHANNEL's SECRETS OF THE DOLLAR BILL

The History Channel broadcast an hour show "Secrets of the Dollar
Bill" in its Decoding the Past Series this week. I viewed this Thursday
night (it was also rebroadcast Saturday July 29th as well). The
current dollar bill is loaded with images. Do some of these symbols
reveal secret messages?

The secrets revolve around Masonic symbols. Conspiracy theorists claim
this is the work of an underground secret organization of elite men
that are seeking world domination at some time in the future. Masonic
officials deny this, of course, but a lot of the evidence -- on the
dollar bill itself -- tend to support this. The Great Seal of the
United States, shown on the reverse of the dollar bill, is the source
of much of this symbolism.

On the obverse of the Great Seal is the eagle, our national symbol.
This is shown on the right of the $1 bill. The eagle is holding 13
arrows in his talon, there are other objects 13 in number: leaves on
the branch in the eagle’s other talon, bars & stripes on the shield,
and stars above within the wreath. They claim 13 is a mystical number
of the Masons. The number of feathers is also significant, 32 on the
left, 33 on the right. Masons have 32nd degree and 33rd degree levels
of study.

The reverse of the Great Seal, shown on the left of the bill, has
the unfinished pyramid with the all-seeing eye above and the 1776
founding date in Roman numerals below, all Masonic symbols.

The film traces the origin of the Great Seal, it required three
committees of our founding fathers to designed the Great Seal,
each had their own artist. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin,
and Paul Revere – Masons all – were on the first committee.

Of course they had to mention that Franklin wanted the turkey to
be the national bird, not the eagle. Francis Hopkinson, of the
third committee accomplished the final task. He incorporated the
pyramid (since he had previously employed it with success on a
$50 Connecticut colonial note!).

In 1935 the design of our current dollar bill was chosen by
Franklin D. Roosevelt, his VP Henry Wallace insisted the Great Seal
appear on the reverse. The conspiracy theorists note both of these
men were Masons as the mystery still continues.

Authorities on both sides of the debate were quoted on the program:
Robert Hergnimus, Paul Claussen, Ralph Epperson, Robert Mastelson,
Simon Cox, Andy Burr.  Brent Morris was the leading spokesman for
the Masons.

Most significant was the shape of the stars above the eagle in the
seal. If a line is drawn through all it forms a six sided star. If
this is superimposed over the reverse design five of the six points
indicate a letter in the legend above and below. The letters form
an anagram for the word MASON. That’s more than coincidence, it seems.

Numismatic book collectors must recognize that videos and DVDs are
modern versions of the printed book and should be included in their
libraries. (Granted, I am prejudiced, having written a video on
making medals!)  The History Channel is offering this hour-long
program as a DVD for $24.95. Go to their website and click on
"Store." Delivery is scheduled for September first."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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