Coat of arms of Pennsylvania
| Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Versions | |
Historical coat of arms (illustrated, 1876) | |
The coat of arms is often used in the form of a seal | |
| Armiger | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| Adopted | 1778 |
| Crest | Bald eagle |
| Torse | Gold and White |
| Shield | Tierced per fess azure, Or, and vert; in chief a ship at sea proper; in fess a plough proper; in base three sheaves of wheat proper |
| Supporters | Horses |
| Motto | Virtue, Liberty, and Independence |
| Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Versions | |
Reverse | |
| Armiger | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| Motto | Both Can't Survive |
The coat of arms of Pennsylvania is an official emblem of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, alongside the seal and state flag, and was adopted in 1778.
The state seal of Pennsylvania was authorized by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1791, and is "a symbol of authenticity which verifies that proclamations, commissions and other papers of state are legal and official."
Unlike most state seals, it has an obverse and a reverse. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is the keeper of the seal, and has the duty of authenticating government documents, and proclaiming new law as enacted through its use.