The great seal of the state of Delaware was first adopted on January 17, 1777, with the current version being adopted April 29, 2004. It contains the state coat of arms surrounded by an inscription.

Coat of arms

At the center of the coat of arms is a shield of horizontal orange, blue and white stripes. On the orange stripe is a sheaf of wheat and a cob of corn. On the white stripe is an ox standing on grass. Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a farmer on the left and a rifleman on the right. Underneath the shield is the state motto. *The sheaf of wheat is taken from the Sussex County seal and signifies the agricultural vitality of the state. *The ear of corn was taken from the Kent County seal and symbolizes the agricultural basis of the state's economy. *The blue stripe, above the ox, represents the

Delaware River The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...

, the main stay of the state's commerce and transportation. *The ox represents the importance of animal husbandry to the state's economy. *The ship is a symbol of New Castle County's ship building industry and the state's extensive coastal commerce. *The farmer with the hoe represents the central role of farming to the state. *The soldier, a militiaman with his musket, recognizes the crucial role of the citizen-soldier to the maintenance of American liberties. *The motto "Liberty and Independence" was provided by the Order of the Cincinnati, a hereditary organization of

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

officers, formed in 1783.

Inscription

The surrounding inscription reads: "Great Seal of the State of Delaware" and the dates 1704, 1776 and 1787. *The Lower Counties on the Delaware Bay established their own

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...

in 1704; *Separation Day, June 15, 1776, was the day the colonial General Assembly declared

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

an independent state; *Delaware Day, December 7, 1787, was the day Delaware ratified the

United States Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Originally includi ...

, being the first state to do so.

History

The seal was originally adopted in 1777 with minor changes made in 1793, 1847, and 1907. The current version was adopted in 2004. *From 1793 until 1847 the figures of the farmer and the soldier were eliminated from the seal. *In 1847 the motto "Liberty and Independence," was added on a ribbon underneath the shield. *In 1907 the seal was "modernized" and "THE DELAWARE STATE" was changed to "THE STATE OF DELAWARE".

Blazon

The seal now used as the Great Seal of this State and bearing the arms of this State shall be the Great Seal of this State. It is emblazoned as follows: Party per fess, or and argent, the first charged with a garb (wheat sheaf) in bend dexter and an ear of maize (Indian Corn) in bend sinister, both proper; the second charged with an ox statant, ruminating, proper; fess, wavy azure, supporters on the dexter a husbandman with a hilling hoe, on the sinister a rifleman armed and accoutered at ease. Crest, on a wreath azure and argent, a ship under full sail, proper, with the words "Great Seal of the State of Delaware," the dates "1704, 1776, and 1787," and the words "Liberty and Independence" engraved thereon.

Seal of the Governor

File:Seal of Jack Markell, Governor of Delaware.svg, Seal of

Jack Markell Jack Alan Markell (born November 26, 1960) is an American politician and diplomat. He had served the United States ambassador both to Italy and to San Marino. He had served as the United States ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-oper ...

, Governor of Delaware 2009–2017 File:Seal of Ruth Ann Minner, Governor of Delaware.svg, Seal of

Ruth Ann Minner Ruth Ann Minner ( Coverdale; January 17, 1935 – November 4, 2021) was an American politician and businesswoman who served as the 72nd List of governors of Delaware, governor of Delaware from 2001 to 2009. She previously served in the Delaware G ...

, Governor of Delaware 2001–2009

Government seals of Delaware

File:Seal of the Supreme Court of Delaware.svg, Seal of the

Supreme Court of Delaware The Delaware Supreme Court is the sole appellate court in the United States state of Delaware. Because Delaware is a popular haven for corporations, the Court has developed a worldwide reputation as a respected source of corporate law decisions, ...

References

External links

The Great Seal of the State of Delaware
*Code 1852, § 463; 24 Del. Laws, c. 89, § 1; Code 1915, § 387; Code 1935, § 361; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 501; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 276, § 1.

{{Delaware Symbols of Delaware