Seal of Wisconsin

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Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin
Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Versions
Coat of arms of Wisconsin.svg
Coat of arms of Wisconsin [1]
Wisconsin state coat of arms (illustrated, 1876).jpg
Historical coat of arms (illustrated, 1876)
US-NBN-WI-state seal detail (type 1) (Series 1882BB reverse) proof.jpg
Wisconsin state seal (first type) depicted on the reverse of Series 1882BB National Bank Note (1851)
Armiger State of Wisconsin
Adopted1848 (updated 1851 and 1881) [2] [3]
Motto Forward

The Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin is a seal used by the Wisconsin Secretary of State to authenticate all the governor's official acts, except laws. It consists of the state coat of arms, with the words "Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin" above it and 13 stars, representing the original states, below it.

Contents

The state seal emphasizes mining and shipping because at the time of Wisconsin's founding in 1848 the mining of lead and iron and shipping (via the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River) were major industries.

The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is the keeper of Wisconsin's great seal. The seal is displayed in all courtrooms in the state, often alongside the county seal.

Government seals of Wisconsin

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Wisconsin State Symbols" in Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). State of Wisconsin 2007-2008 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, p. 962.
  2. "State Seals of Wisconsin". Archived from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  3. "Wisconsin State Symbols" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-03.