The New Jersey state seal, designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, was approved by the legislature in 1777. It features five symbols, including a horse’s head and helmet, a shield with three plows, and female figures representing Ceres and Liberty. The seal has undergone subtle changes over the years, including the figures facing the viewer and holding different objects.
Designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, the New Jersey state seal was considered and approved by the New Jersey legislature in May of 1777. The symbols used in its design reflect the social and political attitudes of the New Jersey population at the time. Over the years, the various elements of the design have kept their respective places within the seal, while slight changes have been made to many of the symbols. These changes were codified by the state legislature in Joint Resolution 8 of the 1928 laws. The 1928 changes marked the first time the state year of New Jersey – 1776 – was shown using Arabic numerals for the first time.
New Jersey’s design state seal was approved by the legislature at a meeting held at the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield. Circular in shape, it incorporated five symbols that held significance to New Jersey’s early leaders and bears the text “THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY” around its upper perimeter. A horse’s head and helmet appear in the top center of the seal. These crest-like figures reflect New Jersey’s independent status as a state and speak to its early adoption of the United States Constitution. Immediately below the helmet is a shield containing three plows, reflecting New Jersey agricultural activity.
The female figure flanking the shield to the right is the Roman goddess Ceres, patroness of grain, cradling a cornucopia that also symbolizes New Jersey’s concern for agriculture and abundant crops. The female figure to the left of the shield is a representation of Liberty, a very popular design theme in post-colonial America. She wears a so-called “freedom cap” which represents the independence of the United States and New Jersey from the newly conquered Great Britain. The scroll that appears below the shield contains the state motto – Liberty and Prosperity – along with the year 1776, the year of New Jersey statehood.
Over the years since its original creation, the New Jersey state seal has undergone a number of subtle changes. Both female figures have looked away from the shield in the original version of the New Jersey state seal, while, as of 2011, they face the viewer. As of 2011, the figure of Liberty holds a staff in her right hand, while the original seal showed her holding it in the crook of her left arm. The opening of the cornucopia or basket of food held by the Ceres figure in the original seal faced the ground, where she now holds it face up.
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