Our Great State!

Our State Seal

Seal Facts• Francis Hopkins designed the seal in 1777• The helmet with its crest of a horse’s head means

NJ is a sovereign state (we make our own laws)• The woman on the left is Liberty. Her staff has a

liberty cap-another symbol of freedom.• The woman on the right is the Roman goddess,

Ceres. She represents agriculture and prosperity. She holds a cornucopia.

• The three horse-drawn plows on the shield, the horse's head on the helmet and the swirls of leaves symbolize NJ’s farming tradition.

• Our motto “Liberty and Prosperity” is written on the scroll at the bottom of the seal and the date (1776) NJ became a state.

STATE FLOWERVIOLET (1913)

THE STATE BIRDEASTERN GOLDFINCH (1935)

STATE ANIMALHORSE (1977)

STATE TREERED OAK (1950)

STATE FOLK DANCESQUARE DANCE (1983)

STATE DINOSAURHADROSAURUS FOULKII

(1991)

STATE SHELLKNOBBED WHELK (1995)

STATE INSECT (1974)

HONEY BEE

STATE FRUITBLUEBERRY (2004)

STATE FISHBROOK TROUT (1991)

NEW JERSEY STATE FLAG

State Coin

State Nickname:

The Garden State

Colors:

Buff and Jersey Blue

Other Information about New Jersey