Seal of South Carolina Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Great Seal of the State of South Carolina

Versions
Historical coat of arms (1876)

Armiger	State of South Carolina
Adopted	1776
Motto	Quis separabit? Meliorem lapsa locavit Animis opibusque parati Dum spiro spero Spes

The Great Seal of the State of South Carolina is a special symbol. It was first used in 1776. This seal is made of two oval shapes. These shapes are connected by branches from a palmetto tree.

What the Seal Looks Like
- The Left Side: Battle and Victory
- The Right Side: Hope and New Beginnings
More About the State Symbols
- Supporters of the Seal
- Fame Above
Important Uses of the Seal
Government Seals of South Carolina
See also

What the Seal Looks Like

The seal has two main pictures. Let's look at each one.

The Left Side: Battle and Victory

The picture on the left shows a tall palmetto tree. Next to it, there is a broken oak tree lying on the ground. This scene remembers a battle from June 28, 1776. This was the Battle of Sullivan's Island. In this battle, defenders fought against the British Fleet.

The standing palmetto tree shows the winners of the battle. The fallen oak tree stands for the British Fleet that lost. Around the palmetto tree, there are 12 spears. These spears are tied together. They stand for the first 12 states of the United States. The motto Quis separabit? is also here. It means 'Who will separate [us]?'

Below this, you can read another motto: "Meliorem Lapsa Locavit". This means "Having Fallen, She Has Set Up a Better One". The year 1776 is also shown. This is the year the seal was adopted. Around the top of this picture, it says "South Carolina". At the bottom, it says Animis opibusque parati. This means 'Prepared in mind and resources'.

The Right Side: Hope and New Beginnings

The other picture on the seal shows a Roman goddess named Spes. She is walking along a shore. The shore has weapons scattered on it. The goddess holds a branch of laurel. The sun is rising behind her.

Below her picture, her name Spes is written. In Latin, Spes means 'hope'. Above this picture, there is another motto: Dum spiro spero. This means 'While I breathe, I hope'.

More About the State Symbols

Soon after the seal was made, the state added more symbols. These symbols are part of the state's full design.

Supporters of the Seal

On the left side of the seal, there is a person who looks like Liberty. She holds a Phrygian cap and a laurel wreath. On the right side, there is a Continental soldier. These two figures are called "supporters". They stand on each side of the main shield.

Fame Above

Above the shield, there is a figure representing Fame. She flies from Liberty to the soldier. This shows how the state's achievements are celebrated.

Important Uses of the Seal

The Great Seal of South Carolina is used for very important documents. For example, it was placed on the Ordinance of Secession in 1860. This was a big event in South Carolina's history. It showed the state's decision to become a separate nation. Many people watched as this important document was signed.

Government Seals of South Carolina

Many parts of the South Carolina government have their own seals. These seals are also important symbols. They show the authority of each office or department.