Question

What items on the great seal are clusters of thirteen to represent the original states?

clouds in the sky
stripes on the shield
branches of fruit
arrows
olives on the branch
feathers on the eagle's wing
stars
layers of the pyramid

Answer 1

The following items appear in groups of 13 on the Great Seal (representing the original states):

- Stripes on the shield (13)
- Stars (13 in the star cluster/conspicuous glory)
- Arrows (13)
- Olives on the olive branch (and the olive branch has 13 leaves as well)
- Layers (steps) of the pyramid on the reverse (13)

The clouds, the eagle's wing feathers, and the ambiguous "branches of fruit" are not shown as deliberate clusters of 13.