View source for Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia

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[[File:GreatSealOfTheCommonwealthOfVirginiaObverse.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Illustration of the obverse (front) of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia.]]
[[File:GreatSealOfTheCommonwealthOfVirginiaReverse.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Illustration of the reverse (back) of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia.]]

Monday, July 1, 1776:<ref>''Proceedings of the Convention of Delegates Held at the Capitol, in the City of Williamsburg, in the Colony of Virginia, on Monday the 6th of May, 1776'' (Williamsburg, VA: Alexander Purdie, 1776), 173.</ref>
<blockquote>
''Resolved,'' that mr. ''Richard Henry Lee,'' mr. ''George Mason,'' mr. Treasurer [Robert Carter Nicholas], and Mr. ''Wythe,'' be appointed a committee to devise a proper seal for this Commonwealth.
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Friday, July 5, 1776:<ref>''Proceedings,'' 184-185.</ref>
<blockquote>
Mr. ''George Mason,'' from the committee appointed to devise a proper seal for this commonwealth, reported, that the committee had accordingly prepared the following device thereof; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same was again twice read, and agreed to.

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''To be engraved on the'' '''GREAT SEAL:'''
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VIRTUS, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed like an ''Amazon,'' resting on a spear with one hand, and holding a sword in the other, and treading on TYRANNY, represented by a man prostrate, a crown fallen from his head, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right.

In the exergon the word VIRGINIA over the head of VIRTUS; and underneath, the words ''Sic semper tyrannis.''

On the reverse a groupe.

LIBERTAS, with her wand and ''pileus.''

On one side of her CERES, with the ''cornucopia'' in one hand, and an ear of wheat in the other.

On the other side &AElig;TERNITAS, with the globe and ph&#339;nix.

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In the exergon these words:<br />DEUS NOBIS H&AElig;C OTIA FECIT.
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''Resolved,'' that ''George Wythe,'' and ''John Page'', esquires, be desired to superintend the engraving the said seal, and to take care that the same be properly executed.
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==Description of the seal==

==Evidence for Wythe's design==

On November 18, 1776, Wythe [[Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, 18 November 1776|wrote to Thomas Jefferson]] from the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia:

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I understood by the person employed to draw the figures for our great seal that you intended to propose an alteration in those on the reverse. I wish you would propose it; for though I had something to do in designing them, I do not like them. Let me know of the alteration, if any; and send a neat impression made by the old seal. It will be useful to the workman. Adieu.
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==See also==

*[[Code of Virginia (1873)]]
*[[History of Virginia]]
*[[Report on State Seal]]
*[[Report on the Great Seal of Virginia]]
*[[Seal of the College]]
*[[Seal of the High Court of Chancery]]
*[[Seal of Virginia]]
*[[Seals of Virginia]]
*[[Wythe Monument]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==

*Brent Tarter, [http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Seal_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Virginia "Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia,"] ''Encyclopedia Virginia.''

[[Category: Seals]]