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The state seal of Maine features a moose, pine tree, farmer, and sailor, with the state motto “I lead” above and “Maine” below. It has remained largely unchanged since 1820 and is used on official documents and the state flag.
The state seal of Maine contains images important to the state, including the state tree, animal and motto. The first seal was created when Maine became a state and the basic images have generally remained the same. Legislation has been put in place to provide detailed information about the images found on the seal. It is used only by the Secretary of State of Maine and is found on the state flag.
The state seal of Maine includes a shield containing an image of a moose at the foot of a pine tree. On the right side of the pine tree is a farmer with a scythe and on the left side a sailor leaning on an anchor. The close-up of the seal depicts a representation of land and sea. Below the shield is the name “Maine” in capital letters. Above the shield is the North Star and the word dirigio, Latin for “I lead,” the state motto of Maine.
Maine’s first state seal became official in 1820, three months after Maine became a state. The original design was thought to have been created by Colonel Isaac G. Reed. All subsequent seals are based on the 1820 statute description, but some variations include a stag instead of an elk and the farmer holding the scythe with the blade towards the ground rather than in the rest position. The statute does not include any information about the color of the seal except for the description of the blue background used on the flag.
Since 1919, there have been no changes to the state seal. Legislation was passed providing for a strict description of images on the seal, which is still followed today. The elk and pine are also the state tree and state animal.
The official state seal of Maine is made of cast iron and is an embosser, a tool that creates a three-dimensional design on paper. Seal embossing and several smaller versions are used to emboss the state seal of Maine on official documents. While this official seal belongs to the secretary of state, the seal is also an image that can be found on many objects.
The seal is also found on other state symbols, as it is featured on the Maine state flag. A modified state seal is used on the marine flag, but this version does not contain the farmer, only the sailor.
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