Seal of the United States Senate with a shield on its breast, olive branches in its left talon, and arrows in its right. Above the eagle were rays of light emanating from clouds, representing the emergence of the new nation. Encircling the design was the legend . While the design was clearly based on the Great Seal of the United States, the engraving was distinctly different. It had a spade shield instead of the more familiar shape on the Great Seal, and the eagle had no scroll in its beak. The design of the clouds and light rays was also different, and the inscription showed it
Great Seal of the Irish Free State the grounds that the change in procedure had not been agreed. A compromise was negotiated whereby the Free State would use a separate "external seal" in the custody of its Minister for External Affairs. The external seal, designed by Percy Metcalfe, had on its obverse the same harp image as the Great Seal, and on its reverse the same image of the monarch enthroned as the British Great Seal of the Realm. George V formally presented the external seal to John W. Dulanty on 18 January 1932 at Sandringham House. The External Great Seal was used only on ratifications and