New Jersey State Seal

The official state seal of New Jersey, adopted on May 11, 1896 (with modifications in 1928), is a richly symbolic emblem. It features a shield with three plows, symbolizing the state's agricultural heritage, and a forward-facing helmet above a horse's head. Flanking the shield are the figures of Liberty and Ceres, representing the state's motto "Liberty and Prosperity." Liberty holds a staff with a liberty cap, while Ceres carries a cornucopia filled with fruits. A streamer at the emblem's base bears the state motto and the year of statehood, 1776. The seal's colors, buff and blue, owe their origins to George Washington's orders for the uniforms of the New Jersey Continental Line. This emblem serves as the central motif in the state flag, reinforcing New Jersey's historical and agricultural identity.