State Seal
State Seal
  • Pierre Eugene du Simitiere created New Jersey's State Seal in 1777. It contains five symbols, each of which represents something about New Jersey.
Helmet and Horse Head
Helmet and Horse Head
  • The helmet and the horse's head crest represent New Jersey's independence as a state. They also represent New Jersey's status as one of the first states. In 1787 New Jersey was the third state to sign the U.S. Constitution.
Liberty
Liberty
  • The woman holding a staff with a liberty cap on top is Liberty, who represents freedom. In ancient Rome, former Roman slaves saw a liberty cap as a badge of freedom. Liberty caps became popular again during the Revolutionary War.
Ceres
Ceres
  • The woman on the right is the Roman goddess of grain, Ceres. She holds an ice-cream-cone-shaped basket, called a cornucopia, filled with the many fruits and vegetables produced in New Jersey.
Shield
Shield
  • The three plows on the shield symbolize the agricultural tradition of New Jersey.
Scroll
Scroll
  • The state's motto "Liberty and Prosperity" is written on the scroll. 1776 is the year New Jersey became a state.