Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Monday, July 1, 1776:[1]
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.
Friday, July 5, 1776:[2]
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.
To be engraved on the GREAT SEAL:
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 ÆTERNITAS, with the globe and phœnix.
In the exergon these words:
DEUS NOBIS HÆC OTIA FECIT.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.
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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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), 184-185.
External links
- Brent Tarter, "Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia," Encyclopedia Virginia.
