View source for Seal of Utah

{{short description|Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Utah}}
{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Great Seal of the State of Utah
|image            = Seal of Utah.svg
|image_width      = 200
|middle           = 
|middle_width     = 
|middle_caption   = 
|lesser           = Seal of Utah (alternative) 2011.svg
|lesser_width     = 150
|lesser_caption   = Variant
|image2           = Coat of arms of Utah.svg
|image2_width     = 
|image2_caption   = Coat of arms
|image3           = 
|image3_width     = 
|image3_caption   = 
|armiger          = State of Utah
|year_adopted     = April 3, 1896
|crest            = 
|torse            = 
|shield           = 
|supporters       = 
|compartment      = 
|motto            = '''Industry'''
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = 
|use              = 
}}
The '''Great Seal of the [[Utah|State of Utah]]''' was adopted on April 3, 1896, at the first regular session of the [[Utah State Legislature|Legislature]] (January, February, March, April 1896). The original [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] was designed by Harry Edwards & C. M. Jackson and cost $65.00, {{inflation|US|65.00|1896|fmt=eq}}. The great seal is described in Utah Code Annotated, 1953, Volume 7a, section 67-2-9 as follows:

{{quote|"The Great Seal of the State of Utah shall be two and one-half inches in diameter, and of the following device; the center a shield and perched thereon an American Eagle with outstretching wings; the top of the shield pierced by six arrows crosswise; under the arrows the motto "INDUSTRY"; beneath the motto a [[skep|beehive]], on either side growing [[Calochortus nuttallii|sego lilies]]; below the figures "1847"; on each side of the shield an American Flag.; encircling all, near the outer edge of the seal, beginning at the lower left-hand portion, the words, "THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF UTAH", with the figures "1896" at the base."}}

==Seal of the governor==
There is also an official seal of the [[governor of Utah]]. Borrowing most of the same symbolism from the state seal, the Governor's seal includes Roman numerals at the bottom, which represent the Governor himself, and this changes with every new Governor. Each Governor therefore has a seal unique to themselves and their administration. The Roman numerals are currently "XVIII", representing [[Spencer Cox (politician)|Spencer Cox]], who is the 18th governor of Utah since statehood. The seal was designed after the California Governor's Seal by Ronald L. Fox of Salt Lake City, Utah in 1992.

==Enhanced variant==
An artist at the Colonial Flag Company, produced the artwork for the corrected [[Flag of Utah|Utah State flag]] used during the Legislative process. The flag was drawn following the legal description and using the colors of the flag made for presentation to the {{USS|Utah|BB-31}} in 1912. Although colors were not included in the law describing the Utah State Flag as adopted in 1912 and amended in 1913, they were described in other state documents. Utah officials asked that those colors be used. However, they declined to include an illustration with the House Concurrent Resolution, saying that was not possible.

As with many flags with seals and coats of arms, there is room for artistic interpretation while still following correct designs. Paul Swenson, who as the President of Colonial Flag Company had paid for the prototype design, felt the eagle as shown in that design was weak and unattractive. He had graphic artist Perry Van Schelt strengthen the design while following the same description and using the same colors as employed in the prototype. Advisors in the project included John Hartvigsen, David Rindlisbach and Ronald L. Fox, Fox suggested the flag on the seal would have 45 stars divided between the two U.S. Flags shown on the seal, Utah was the 45th State. Both the prototype and the enhance designs are correct and follow the law and intent of the 2011 legislation. Only a few hundred flags were ordered using the prototype design, and most flags now being made and sold use the enhanced design, but legally flag manufacturers are free to use either version.<ref>[http://www.loeser.us/flags/utah.html Utah State Flag 2011 (enhanced variant)]</ref>
<gallery>
Seal of Utah (1896–1953).png|Original seal from 1896, lacking the "Industry" motto.
File:Emblem of Utah (1903–1913).svg|Variant used from 1903–1913 from the Flag
File:Seal of Utah (1953–2011).svg|Seal used up until 2011
File:Coat of arms of Utah (enhanced variant).svg|{{center|Coat of arms of Utah (enhanced variant)}}
File:Flag of the State of Utah (2011–2024).svg|{{center|Historic Flag of Utah (enhanced variant)}}
File:Seal of the Governor of Utah (enhanced variant).svg|{{center|Seal of the governor of Utah (enhanced variant)}}
File:Seal of Utah (alternative, enhanced variant).svg|{{center|Seal of Utah (alternative, enhanced variant)}}  
</gallery>

==Symbolism==
{|
|-
| '''Symbol'''
| '''Meaning'''
|-
| [[Bald eagle|American eagle]]
| National bird
|-Cardinal
| Shield
| Common defense
|-
| Industry
| [[List of U.S. state mottos|Motto]]
|-
| [[Beehive (beekeeping)|Beehive]]
| State emblem
|-
| 1896
| [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood|Statehood established]]
|-
| 1847
| Pioneers arrived
|-
| [[Calochortus nuttallii|Sego Lily]]
| [[List of U.S. state flowers|State flower]]
|-
| U.S. flags
| [[Federal government of the United States|National government]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090331121812/http://www.utah.gov/capitolbuilding/greatseal.html Great Seal of the State of Utah]

{{US_state_seals}}
{{Utah}}
{{US state coats of arms}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Utah}}
[[Category:Symbols of Utah]]
[[Category:United States state seals|Utah]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with eagles|Utah]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with arrows|Utah]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with lilies|Utah]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with flags|Utah]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with beehives|Utah]]