Seal of New Hampshire is one of the state symbols of the state of New Hampshire . Since independence on January 5, 1776, New Hampshire has had two seals, although only one is in official use.
Content
- 1 Large print
- 2 Other printing
- 2.1 Colonial option
- 2.2 First State Seal of 1776
- 3 References
Big print
In 1784 , after the New Hampshire Constitution came into force, state legislators approved a seal depicting a ship against the backdrop of the rising sun. This symbolism recalls that Portsmouth was a major center for shipbuilding during the War of Independence. Over time, various symbols related to shipping appeared on the seal.
In 1919 , the director of the New Hampshire Historical Society, Otis Hammond, commissioned the Governor and Executive Board of State to write the history of the New Hampshire Press and Flag. In particular, he found that the changes made to the press were not approved by law, but were related to the introduction of new details when making a copy of the print after the colors faded. In 1931, Governor John Winant , in order to avoid possible misunderstandings related to printing, appointed a commission to develop a new print design. The state supreme court approved the commission’s recommendations, and later a law was passed approving the new seal.
Under this law, the frigate USS Raleigh (Rayleigh) was placed in the center of the new press. The frigate was built in Portsmouth in 1776 as one of the first thirteen ships ordered by the Continental Congress for the new US Navy. By law, printing is two inches in diameter. The inscription reads SEAL • OF • THE • STATE • OF • NEW HAMPSHIRE (New Hampshire State Seal).
Other print
Colonial option
On July 1, 1774, the First Provincial Congress convened for the first time in Exeter . Among other things, he abolished the use of all monarchical symbols, including the state seal, which was the image of King George III . Later, Congress prepared a new print depicting fish and pine, separated by a bundle of five arrows. Fish and pine symbolized the colony's main export products, and arrows represented five counties (there are ten counties in New Hampshire). The seal was COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE * VIS UNITA FORTIOR . This motto never had an official status, but was used until 1784 . No documents were found allowing official use of the seal. It was first delivered September 1, 1775 , the last known use - July 5, 1775 .
First State Seal of 1776
Officially, the first state seal was authorized for use on September 12, 1776 . This seal is still used by the State Court, although there are no official documents regulating its status or appearance. The seal shows the same fish and pine, separated by five arrows. The inscription reads SIGILL: REI - PUB: NEOHANTONI: * VIS UNITA FORTIOR * .