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New Mexico State Seal

Seal and Nickname

The New Mexico State Seal
The Great Seal of the State of New Mexico serves as a symbol of authenticity which verifies that government documents and papers of state are official and legal in the "Land of Enchantment". The New Mexico state seal is also an emblem that is representative of the state's origins, history, character and ideals. The following motto, reflecting the spirit of the state, is also incorporated in the New Mexico state seal is expressed in Latin as "Crescit eundo" which means:

"It grows as it goes"

The New Mexico state seal identifies government buildings and officials. The symbolism, history and emblems of the seal are described in this article with fast facts.

New Mexico State Seal

 
 

Facts on the New Mexico State Seal
The men who designed the Great State seals were educated in the classics and were knowledgeable of art history and symbolism of heraldry. Fast, fun facts about the history and design of the New Mexico State Seal:

New Mexico State Seal Facts

Fact 1: The first seal used was that of the New Mexico Territory that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912 when statehood was achieved

Fact 2: The small Mexican eagle is shielded by the larger American eagle symbolizing the change of sovereignty in 1846 between Mexico and the United States

Fact 3: In 1882, Territorial Secretary W.G. Ritch embellished the earlier design with the phrase "Crescit Eundo."

New Mexico Territory seal

 

Description, Symbols, Icons and Emblems of the New Mexico State Seal
The description and meaning of the symbols, icons and emblems of New Mexico are as follows:

The larger American Bald eagle shields the smaller Mexican eagle with its outstretched wings
In heraldry and eagle with its wings "displayed" (outspread wings) symbolizes protection

The large American eagle holds three arrows in its talons. In heraldry an arrow symbolizes readiness for battle

The Mexican eagle is grasping a serpent in its beak and a cactus in its talons These acts symbolize bravery and endurance
The Mexican eagle with the cactus and snake portrays an ancient Aztec myth.
The New Mexico seal is kept and used as required by the Constitution and laws of the state.

The New Mexico Seal and the Aztec Myth
The Mexican eagle with the cactus and snake portrays an ancient Aztec myth. The main god of the Aztecs promised the people that that they would have a city but had to find a magically special place to build it. To find this special place, they were to look for an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake. For the next 200 years, the Aztecs wandered in the Valley of Mexico until eventually an Aztec priest, standing on the shore of Lake Texcoco saw an eagle, perched on a cactus, with a snake in its mouth. The Aztecs founded their civilization on the island where the eagle was perched. They named the island Tenochtitlan, "the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus".

The New Mexico Seal of 1850
This early seal of the state highlights the date in Latin numerals of MDCCCL meaning 1850. New Mexico's First Constitution was drafted in May 1850 and claimed the entire Texas Panhandle, plus parts of Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona, and Colorado. This resulted in the Congressional Compromise of 1850 that  halted the 1850 bid for New Mexico statehood.

 

New Mexico State Seal for Kids

Meaning & Symbolism on New Mexico Great Seal
"It grows as it goes" motto
Find the meaning of the Great State Seal
Meaning, History, Symbols and Origin for kids
Meaning, symbols, design, description and history
Interesting facts & picture of the Great State Seal
Official Nickname "Land of Enchantment"
Meaning of the New Mexico Seal for schools, kids and children


New Mexico State Seal for Kids

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