Coat of arms of Pennsylvania

The coat of arms of Pennsylvania is an official emblem of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, alongside the seal and state flag, and was adopted in 1778.[1]

See also: Flag of Pennsylvania and Seal of Pennsylvania
Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Versions
Historical coat of arms (illustrated, 1876)
The coat of arms is often used in the form of a "seal"
The coat of arms as it appears on the obverse of the Great Seal.
ArmigerCommonwealth of Pennsylvania
Adopted1778
CrestBald eagle
TorseGold and White
BlazonTierced per fess azure, Or, and vert; in chief a ship at sea proper; in fess a plough proper; in base three sheaves of wheat proper
SupportersHorses
MottoVirtue, Liberty, and Independence

Design and symbolism

The Pennsylvania coat of arms features a shield crested by a North American bald eagle, flanked by horses, and adorned with symbols of Pennsylvania's strengths—a ship carrying state commerce to all parts of the world; a clay-red plough, a symbol of Pennsylvania's rich natural resources; and three golden sheaves of wheat, representing fertile fields and Pennsylvania's wealth of human thought and action. An olive branch and cornstalk cross limbs beneath—symbols of peace and prosperity. The state motto, "Virtue, Liberty and Independence", appears festooned below. Atop the coat of arms is a bald eagle, representing Pennsylvania's loyalty to the United States.[2][3]

Use

Besides being used by itself, the coat of arms is used on the state flag, many governmental seals of the state, and the flag of the governor.

See also

References
  1. "Pennsylvania Government". State Government. State Symbols USA. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  2. "World Flags 101 - Pennsylvania Flags". Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  3. "Symbols of Pennsylvania". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.