Seal of Georgia

In the center of the front side of the state press of Georgia is the state constitutional arch, the three columns of which symbolize the three branches of government: executive , legislative, and judicial . The columns of the arch are wrapped with inscriptions with the words of the state motto of Georgia “ Wisdom, Justice, Moderation ” (“ wisdom, justice, moderation ”) and are protected by a soldier (possibly a soldier of the period of the US War of Independence ) with a drawn sword of the defenders of the American Constitution. The same image is on the official coat of arms of the state of Georgia.

On the outer ring of the obverse of the state press of the state, in the upper half is the English phrase " State of Georgia ", in the lower half - the numbers " 1776 ", indicating the year of adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States . The original version indicated the year the state seal was approved (1799), but in 1914 the number and its corresponding symbolic meaning was changed to 1766.

The back of the state seal depicts Georgia’s coastline and an American flag moored ship, symbolizing the state’s export trade in tobacco and cotton . A small boat located on the reverse of the seal marks the river transportation of agricultural goods from the interior of the state. In the background are a farmer and a flock of sheep. The phrase in the upper semicircle of " Agriculture and Trade of the State " and the numbers " 1776 " complete the composition of the reverse of the state seal of Georgia.

• By law, the Secretary of State of Georgia is the official custodian of the State Seal, which is attached to documents by order of the governor. This past printing order has led to several incidents:
  • Between 1868 and 1871, during the era of the Reconstruction of the South , the state seal was not used to seal official documents, since it was hidden under the house of Secretary of State Nathan Barnett . In 1872, residents of Georgia regained control of their government and Barnett, re-elected by then the Secretary General of the state, returned the state seal back ^[1] ;
  • In 1947, during the “Confrontation of the Three Governors,” Secretary of State Ben W. Forston (Jr.) also hid the state seal to prevent any of the three parties to power from taking office until the issue of governorship is resolved legally through the Supreme Court of Georgia .
• Images of the seal and coat of arms were present on seven of the eight flags of the state of Georgia. The exception was the state flag, which was used from 1879 to 1902.
• The cast-iron arch and pillars shown in print have been standing at the north entrance of the University of Georgia since 1858. It has long been believed among university students that if a freshman passes under the arch before his first exam, he will never be able to finish his studies at this university. Currently, the arch and columns are included in the official symbols of the university.

• Flag of georgia

• Georgia Secretary of State's Page on the Seal
• Official Code of Georgia 50-3-30 , the section that describes the state seal