This is the fourth post (of five) rating the designs of each of the 50 state seals. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using for grading.
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Rating the State Seals: New Mexico through South Carolina
The state seal of New Mexico was adopted in 1913, the year after statehood. It features a "Mexican eagle" holding a snake in its beak and cactus in its talons, based on an Aztec myth. It's shielded by the "American eagle" that is holding arrows in its talons. This symbolizes that the state holds onto its Spanish, Mexican, and Native American traditions, while being protected by the US. A scroll has the state motto, translated to "It goes as it grows." Snake, eagle, cactus, motto, date - there are some good elements here, but they desperately need a redesign. Everything about the banner bothers me: the font is hideous, the spacing horrible, and the banner itself oddly asymmetrical. New Mexico has such a beautiful and distinctive landscape. Ristras are practically synonymous with New Mexico. I'd feature those, with the current elements placed more naturally and
less paternalistically.
Design 2, Representation 3.5 = 5.5
New York's state seal was updated most recently in 2020. It features a center shield with two sailing ships on the Hudson River, symbols of inland and foreign commerce. A rising sun (with a face) casts light on the river. Surrounding the shield are Liberty, Justice, and an American eagle standing on a globe with Greenland directly below its talons. The primary and secondary state mottos ("Ever Upward" and "Out of Many, One") appear on the banner that Liberty and Justice are standing on. Once again, we have a Phrygian cap. This is an attractive enough seal, well-balanced and pleasingly symmetrical, but it feels very old-fashioned and too similar to the others that have eagles, Liberty, and Phrygian caps. I would base the entire seal on the scene that is on the shield, minus the face on the sun.
Design 3.5, Representation 3 = 6.5
The seal of North Carolina was modified most recently in 1983. It features Liberty and Prosperity looking toward each other. Liberty is holding her pole and cap, as well as the Constitution. Plenty has grain and a cornucopia. There are hills and a three-masted ship in the background. Two dates appear: May 20, 1775 marks the
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and April 12, 1776 is the date of the
Halifax Resolves. The state motto ("To be, rather than to seem") is at the bottom. I'm getting tired of Liberty and her friends appearing on seals, but I'm not going to penalize any state for repetition, only not representing themselves in a way that's unique. At least there's no eagle. The design is pretty good and between the ship, ocean, hills, dates, and motto, there's an acceptable amount of representation.
Design 3, Representation 4 = 7
North Dakota's state seal was redesigned in 1987 using all of the elements of the original seal, including: a tree with three bundles of wheat at the base (representing three branches of government); a plow, anvil, and sledge (representing agriculture and a strong work ethic); a bow with three arrows and an Indian on horseback chasing a buffalo toward the setting sun (representing Native American culture and the history of the Northern Plains); 42 stars (chosen because they originally expected North Dakota to enter as the 42nd state - it's actually the 39th); the state motto; October 1 (when voters approved the state constitution); and 1889 (when North Dakota gained statehood). Overall, the seal is fine. Not great, not bad. I don't love all the little stuff littered toward the bottom of the seal. They're not necessary. I really don't like that the arrows are pointing at the person, nor that he's riding into the setting sun. And why on earth didn't they didn't change the number of stars to the correct order of admission when the seal was updated?
Design 3, Representation: 3 = 6
The state seal of Ohio was most recently updated in 1996. It features a sunrise over Mt. Logan in Chillicothe, Ohio's first capital. (Fun fact: You can see this view at
Great Seal State Park.) The sun has 13 rays, representing the original 13 colonies. In the foreground there is a bundle of 17 arrows (Ohio is the 17th state) and a sheaf of wheat. This is a beautiful seal and I love that it depicts a real place. I would make one change, and that is to add the date of statehood (1803) to the blue ring.
Design 4.5, Representation 4.5 = 9
Oklahoma's state seal was adopted at statehood in 1907. The main star contains the seals of the
Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole, all of whom have a major presence in Oklahoma. The center of the star holds the territorial seal. There are 45 smaller stars on the seal, representing the first 45 states; the largest star is Oklahoma, the 46th state. I love the concept of this seal, honoring five native tribes as well as all of the states that came before Oklahoma. However, the seal is quite busy with six seals and 45 stars fighting for attention.
Design 2.5, Representation 5 = 7.5
Oregon's state seal was designed in 1857, two years before statehood. It has an American eagle sitting on top of a shield. The shield includes the sun, mountains, an elk, trees, a covered wagon, agricultural and mining tools, and the Pacific Ocean. A British ship is sailing away and an American steamboat is arriving. There are 33 stars, representing Oregon's place as the 33rd state. There is a lot going on in this design, but the tone-on-tone keeps it from being overwhelming. I'd remove the eagle, and the 'The Union' banner to give the other elements that are more specific to Oregon a bit more space. I'd move the 33 stars to the outer ring and fix the weird spacing of the words.
Design 3, Representation 4.5 = 7.5
The state seal of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1791. In the center is a shield with a sailing ship (carrying goods from the state around the world), a plow (representing natural resources), and wheat (representing fertile fields and symbolizing the state's weather of human thought and action). The shield is surrounded by Indian corn, an olive branch, and an eagle. It looks to me that the eagle is standing on a either a surfboard or carrying off a baguette, but it is actually part of the wreath that appears on the state's coat of arms that was removed for the seal design. I don't hate this seal, but it could be so much more focused on what makes Pennsylvania unique. The Liberty Bell seems like an obvious choice, as does a keystone. Or Independence Hall. I'd like to see the date of admission, or two stars marking Pennsylvania as the second state, in the place of the surfing/thieving eagle or the paisley pattern at the bottom.
Design 2.5, Representation 2.5 = 5
Rhode Island's state seal was modified in 2020 when the
state officially changed their name. It features a large anchor and the word HOPE, which is the state motto. 1636 is when Rhode Island was founded as a haven for religious freedom. I tried to determine if there was symbolism behind the odd shapes around the anchor, but they are apparently just asymmetric filigree. I'd rather see 13 stars, as Rhode Island is the only state that can put 13 of something to represent both the original 13 colonies as its own status as #13.
Design 2.5, Representation 3 = 5.5
The state seal of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. It contains two ovals, linked by branches of the palmetto tree (the state tree). The scene in the left oval represents the
June 28, 1776 battle against the British. The words on the trees translate to "Who will separate us?" and beneath that is "Having fallen, she has set up a better one" with the date of 1776. The bottom of the oval says "Prepared in mind and resources." The oval on the right has Spes, the Roman goddess of wisdom. She holds a laurel branch and the sun is rising behind her. Above, the text translates to "While I breathe, I hope" (the state motto). I find the idea of having two different scenes on the seal interesting. I don't like that you have to search for the state name, nor that there is so much text, but it deserves a nod for being unique.
Design 2.5, Representation 4 = 6.5
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Here are the rankings so far:
Arizona (10), Minnesota (10), California (9.5), Ohio (9). Kansas (8.5), Alaska (8), Idaho (8), Montana (8), Delaware (7.5), Hawaii (7.5), Nevada (7.5), Oklahoma (7.5), Oregon (7.5), Colorado (7), Nebraska (7), North Carolina (7), Florida (6.5), New Hampshire (6.5), Missouri (6.5), New York (6.5), South Carolina (6.5), Maine (6), Maryland (6), North Dakota (6), Iowa (5.5), Michigan (5.5), New Mexico (5.5), Rhode Island (5.5) New Jersey (5), Pennsylvania (5), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (4), Indiana (4), Alabama (3), Georgia (3), Massachusetts (3), Illinois (2.5), Mississippi (2), Arkansas (1.5), and Connecticut (1).
Tomorrow I'll look at the final ten seals.
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