What is novus ordo seclorum?

"Novus Ordo Seclorum" is a Latin phrase that translates to "New Order of the Ages" in English. This phrase is famously featured on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States, as well as on the back of the one-dollar bill. It was adopted as part of the seal in 1782.

The origins of the phrase can be traced to a line from the Roman poet Virgil's Eclogue IV, where it is part of a prophecy about a coming new era. The phrase was chosen by Charles Thomson, the Founding Father and then Secretary of the Continental Congress, to represent the beginning of a new American era following the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.

The "New Order of the Ages" signifies the establishment of a new form of government and societal order, emphasizing the hope and promise of progress and a break from the European monarchies and systems of governance that preceded the formation of the United States. The phrase, along with other symbols on the Great Seal, reflects the ideals of independence, renewal, and continuity of the newly established nation.