Coat of arms of Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of the State of Mississippi |
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Historical coat of arms (1876)
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| Armiger | State of Mississippi |
| Adopted | February 7, 2001 (originally February 7, 1894) |
| Motto | Virtute et Armis |
The coat of arms of Mississippi is an important official symbol of the State of Mississippi. It is like a special emblem or badge that represents the state. This design helps people recognize Mississippi and what it stands for.
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What Does the Motto Mean?
The motto on the coat of arms is Virtute et armis. This is a Latin phrase. It means "By courage and weapons" or "By valor and arms."
This motto is also the official state motto of Mississippi. Some people think it might have been inspired by another motto. That motto belonged to Lord Gray De Wilton. His motto was Virtute non armis fido, which means "I trust in virtue, not arms."
History of the Design
Creating the Coat of Arms
The idea for an official coat of arms began a long time ago. On February 7, 1894, the state government decided to create one. They formed a special committee to design it. The design they suggested was accepted. It then became the official coat of arms for Mississippi.
What the Design Shows
The committee described exactly what the coat of arms should look like:
- It has a blue shield.
- On the shield is an eagle with its wings spread wide.
- The eagle holds a palm branch in its right claw.
- In its left claw, it holds a bundle of arrows.
- Above the eagle, the word "Mississippi" is written.
- All the lettering and the eagle on the shield are in gold color.
- Below the shield, there are two cotton stalks. They cross each other, like an "X".
- A red scroll is placed below the cotton stalks.
- On this scroll, the motto "Virtute et armis" is written in gold letters on white spaces.
Making it Official Again
Even though the design was chosen in 1894, something interesting happened. The law about the coat of arms was not included in a big update of Mississippi's laws in 1906. This meant that for a while, it wasn't officially recognized by law.
In May 2000, the Mississippi Supreme Court made a ruling. They said that Mississippi did not have an official coat of arms. To fix this, the state government acted quickly. On February 7, 2001, Governor Ronnie Musgrove signed a new law. This law officially made the original 1894 design the Coat of Arms of Mississippi.
Where Else is it Used?
The state coat of arms is a very important symbol. You can see it in many places. Many official seals of Mississippi government groups use this design. It helps show that these groups are part of the state government.
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Seal of the Mississippi Department of Transportation
See also
In Spanish: Escudo de armas de Misisipi para niños
