The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the state seal for the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

. According to the state's website, the seal was authorized by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1791, and is "a symbol of authenticity which verifies that proclamations, commissions and other papers of state are legal and official." Unlike most state seals, it has an obverse and a reverse. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is the keeper of the Great Seal, and has the duty of authenticating government documents, and proclaiming new law as enacted through its use.

Description

The obverse of the seal has a central image of a shield containing a ship under full sail, a plow, and three sheaves of wheat.Pennsylvania Emblems at a Glance
" in "Kids." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: PA.Gov (website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), retrieved online February 15, 2019. These symbols represent the importance of commerce, labor, perseverance, and agriculture to the state's economy, as well as several of its geographic components (

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

represented by the ship, for example). On either side of the shield are a stalk of Indian corn and an

olive branch The olive branch is a symbol of peace and victory associated with customs of ancient Greece and connected with supplication to gods and persons in power. It is found in most cultures of the Mediterranean basin and became associated with peace ...

, representing the state's recognition of its past and hopes for the future. Atop the shield an eagle proudly symbolizes the state's sovereignty. The outer ring of the seal bears the words "Seal of the State of Pennsylvania," despite the state's official designation as the

. The reverse side, or counterseal, pictures Lady Liberty dominating Tyranny in the form of a lion, along with the warning across the top, "Both Can't Survive."

Seals of the Government of Pennsylvania

There are several seals of the

Government of Pennsylvania The Government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the governmental structure of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as established by the Pennsylvania Constitution. It is composed of three branches: executive branch, executive, legislative bran ...

, which use a variety of designs, including the

Coat of Arms of Pennsylvania The coat of arms of Pennsylvania is an official emblem of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, alongside Seal of Pennsylvania, the seal and state flag, and was adopted in 1778. The flag of Pennsylvania consists of a blue field on w ...

, the State Seal, and other distinct elements. File:Seal of the Governor of Pennsylvania.svg,

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...

of the Governor of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the Secretary of the Commonwealth File:Seal of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Auditor General of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the

Auditor General An auditor general, also known in some countries as a comptroller general or comptroller and auditor general, is a senior civil servant charged with improving government accountability by auditing and reporting on the government's operations. Freq ...

of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Inspector General of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the Inspector General of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme Ju ...

File:Seal of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.svg, Seal of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Senate of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the Senate of Pennsylvania File:Seal of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.svg, Seal of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline File:Seal of the Department of Corrections of Pennsylvania.svg, Seal of the

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) is the Pennsylvania state agency that is responsible for the confinement, care and rehabilitation of approximately 37,000 inmates at state correctional facilities funded by the Commonwealth of P ...

File:Seal of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.svg, Seal of the

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is a cabinet-level state agency in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services' seven program offices administer services that provide care and support to Pennsylvania's most vulnerabl ...

References

External links

History of the Seal of the State of Pennsylvania (Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Pennsylvania Symbols of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

Description

Seals of the Government of Pennsylvania

See also

References

External links