Seal of New York (state) facts for kids

Coat of arms of the State of New York
Versions
Historical coat of arms, illustrated (1876)
Armiger	State of New York
Adopted	1778
Supporters	Liberty and Justice
Motto	Excelsior, E Pluribus Unum

The Great Seal of the State of New York is an important symbol for the state. It shows the state's official coat of arms. This design was first used in 1778. The words "The Great Seal of the State of New York" surround the coat of arms.

Below the main design, a banner displays two mottos. The first motto is Excelsior. This is a Latin word that means "Ever Upward." The second motto, added in 2020, is E Pluribus Unum. This Latin phrase means "Out of Many, One."

Two important figures stand on either side of the shield. On the left is Liberty, representing freedom. On the right is Justice, symbolizing fairness. An American eagle spreads its wings above the shield, resting on a world globe.

Liberty's left foot steps on a crown. This shows that New York is free from the Kingdom of Great Britain. She holds a staff with a Phrygian Cap on top. This cap is another symbol of freedom and the search for liberty. Justice wears a blindfold, showing that she is fair to everyone. She holds a sword in one hand and a scale in the other. These items represent impartiality and balance.

The center of the seal has a shield with a picture of a river scene. You can see a ship with a mast and a smaller boat (a sloop) on the Hudson River. These boats represent trade both within the state and with other countries. The river is bordered by a grassy shore. Behind it, a mountain range rises, with the sun coming up behind the mountains.

History of the New York State Seal

The first official seal for New York was created a long time ago. A special group was formed on April 15, 1777, to design it. Their goal was to make a seal that could be used for everything the old royal seal was used for when New York was a colony.

Early Designs and Changes

The first version of the seal had a rising sun on the front. It also included the motto "Excelsior" and the words "The Great Seal of the State of New York." The back of this early seal showed a rock in the ocean with the word "Frustra."

The state officially approved this first seal in 1778. Over the years, there were some small changes to the design in 1798 and 1809. People also made slight changes to the seal without official approval. Because of these differences, a group was set up in 1880. Their job was to figure out the exact look of the original arms from 1778.

Modern Updates to the Seal

This group reported their findings to the New York Legislature in 1881. They gave a very detailed description of the state arms. This led to the fourth version of the seal, which became official in 1881.

More recently, in April 2020, New York made another change to its state arms. The motto E Pluribus Unum was added to the existing motto. This means the seal now has two important Latin phrases.

Images for kids

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  Seal of the New York Court of Appeals

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  Seal of the New York State Police

See also

In Spanish: Gran sello del estado de Nueva York para niños