The 1 Dollar bill

[A23]

Does somebody know which is the plant depicted on the 1 dollar bill ?

 

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(Warning : Smoking a man smoking 1$ bill may loose his male power forever, it's a federal crime)

[brucejess840]

Hi My Name is Jessica Bruce This is my First reply to any message on Hypography.

I think that it is the Bay Leaf on the $1.00 Dollar Bill.

Thank you let me know if im right

[A23]

Hallo Jessica, i'm Julien.

 

thanx for the info. In fact i speak french, and do not know this plant. Do you know maybe which properties it has ?

Bye.

[CraigD]

Welcome to hypography, Jessica!

I think that it is the Bay Leaf on the $1.00 Dollar Bill.

Thank you let me know if im right

:) You’re right – the leaf depicted on the front of the US $1 bill is said to be the bay laurel leaf.

 

Laurel leaves have a long symbolic tradition of decorating winners and heroes – usually, but not in the case of the dollar bill, woven into a small wreath and worn on the head – so part of their symbolism is lauding 1st US President George Washington, who’s pictured on there. In romance languages, including English and French, this symbolism gives us the word laureate, as in Nobel laureate / lauréat du prix Nobel

 

Looking carefully, you’ll see a lot of unopened bay laurel buds on the stems around, symbolizing that the US is young, and yet to reach its “full bloom”.

 

The back of the bill depicts both sides of the Great Seal of the US. Its front, shown on the right side of the bill, is the Eagle clutching an olive branch, symbolizing peace, in its right claw, and 13 arrows, symbolizing war, in its left. The Eagle’s looking toward the olive branch, symbolizing a preference for peace over war.

 

The other side of the Great Seal, with the unfinished 13-step pyramid and the Eye, has some hints of various growing grass and scraggly plants. I know of no special symbolism or identity to these, but props to anyone who does, and posts it here.

 

Bay leaves are used mostly a cooking spice. Like most bitter, oily leaves, they’re mildly medicinal, containing chemicals with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Folk traditions hold that it’s useful for treating may illnesses and conditions, but by all accounts I’ve read, there’s not enough scientific evidence to support this claim, or that taking big enough doses to get these benefits wouldn’t have side effects outweighing its benefits.