Seal of Georgia (U.S. state) Facts for Kids

"Seal of Georgia" redirects here. For the seal of the country, see Coat of arms of Georgia (country).

Quick facts for kids Great Seal of the State of Georgia

Versions
Reverse
Historical coat of arms (1876)

Armiger	State of Georgia
Adopted	1777 (original) 1914 (current)
Motto	State of Georgia, 1776 (obverse) Agriculture and Commerce, 1776 (reverse)

The Great Seal of the State of Georgia is a special symbol. It is used to make official government papers from the state of Georgia truly authentic. Think of it like a stamp that proves a document is real and important.

Georgia's first great seal was created in 1777. The current design was adopted in 1799. It had some small changes in 1914. The rules for what the seal looks like are written in the state's laws.

What Does the Georgia State Seal Look Like?
History and Fun Facts About the Seal
Other Government Seals in Georgia
See also

What Does the Georgia State Seal Look Like?

The Great Seal of Georgia has two sides: a front (obverse) and a back (reverse). Each side shows different pictures and symbols that are important to Georgia's history and values.

The Front of the Seal

The front of the seal shows the state's coat of arms. This part has an arch with three columns. The arch stands for the state's Constitution. The three columns represent the three main parts of the government:

The legislative branch (which makes laws).
The executive branch (which carries out laws).
The judicial branch (which interprets laws).

The official state motto, "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," is written on scrolls around the columns. A soldier from the Georgia Militia stands between two of the columns. He holds a sword, showing that citizens are ready to defend the state's Constitution. Around the edge of this side, it says "State of Georgia, 1776."

The Back of the Seal

The back of the seal shows a picture of Georgia's coast. There is a ship with the American flag arriving. It is there to load tobacco and cotton. This shows how important trade and exports were for Georgia. A smaller boat nearby represents trade happening within the state.

On the left side of the picture, you can see a man plowing a field. There is also a group of sheep. These images represent farming, which has always been a big part of Georgia's economy. The words "Agriculture and Commerce, 1776" are written around the outside of this image.

Why 1776?

The dates on both sides of the seal were originally 1799. However, in 1914, the Georgia state legislature changed them to 1776. This change was made to honor the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

History and Fun Facts About the Seal

The Great Seal of Georgia has a rich history. It has been a part of many important moments in the state.

The Seal on the State Flag

In 1902, Georgia's lawmakers decided that the coat of arms (the central part of the front of the seal) should be on the state flag of Georgia. Since then, either the coat of arms or the state seal has been on every version of the state flag.

A large metal copy of the Seal. You can see it at a rest area along Interstate 20 in Georgia near Harlem.

Who Keeps the Seal Safe?

By law, the Secretary of State is the official person in charge of the Great Seal. The Secretary of State makes sure the seal is used correctly on official documents. The Governor gives the order for the seal to be used.

The Time of the False Seal

From 1868 to 1871, during a time called Reconstruction, the real Great Seal was not used. It had been hidden by the Secretary of State at the time, Nathan C. Barnett. He wanted to keep it safe from federal forces.

Since the government couldn't find the real seal, they had a new one made. This new seal looked almost exactly like the original. But there was one small difference: the soldier on the seal held his sword in his left hand instead of his right. This period in Georgia's history became known as the "Period of the False Seal." In 1872, when local rule returned to Georgia, Barnett brought the original seal back to the Capitol building.

The Arch at the University of Georgia

In 1857, the University of Georgia built a metal structure that looked like the arch and columns from the front of the Great Seal. This structure is at the north entrance of the campus. It is now famous as The Arch.

The Arch was made from materials that were already available. It looks like the seal's elements but is not an exact copy. It was first used to keep cows from wandering onto campus. Today, The Arch is a very important symbol for the University. There's even a fun legend about it: many students believe it's bad luck for new students to walk under The Arch. The legend says that if you walk under it too early, you might not graduate!