Alabama Great Seal and Coat of Arms

The Alabama Great Seal and coat of arms are two related official emblems of the state. The Great Seal is stamped on official documents to show they are genuine, while the coat of arms is a heraldic design used on buildings, publications and ceremonial items. The coat of arms also carries the state motto, Audemus jura nostra defendere [1][2]. This article describes what each emblem is for, how they differ and how readers can recognize them.

What is a great seal?

A great seal is the main official seal of a government. Historically, a seal was pressed into wax on a document to show that it came from the proper authority. Today it is more often an embossed or printed mark, but the idea is the same: the seal says that a record is genuine. In the United States, each state keeps a great seal, and its design is set by law [1][2].

The Alabama Great Seal

The Great Seal of Alabama is a circular emblem that shows a map of the state with its main rivers and the outlines of neighboring states. The rivers are an apt choice, because Alabama has one of the most extensive river systems in the country, and its name itself comes from a river, as explained in Etymology of the Name Alabama. The seal is kept by the state’s chief election and records official, the Secretary of State, who uses it to authenticate commissions, proclamations and other documents [2].

The coat of arms

A coat of arms is a design that traces back to medieval heraldry, in which a shield, crest and supporting figures identified a family or realm. The Alabama coat of arms follows that tradition. It places a shield in the center, includes emblems that refer to the governments that have held sovereignty over parts of the territory, and shows supporting figures at the sides. A ship and a banner appear on the design, and the motto is displayed on a scroll beneath it [2].

How the two emblems differ

The seal and the coat of arms are often confused. The seal is a functional tool: it authenticates. The coat of arms is a symbol: it represents. A letter signed by a state official may carry the seal, while a government building may display the coat of arms above its entrance. Both are protected emblems, and their use by private parties for advertising can be restricted, so businesses should check the rules before copying them [2].

The motto on the arms

The motto displayed on the coat of arms is the same phrase that serves as the state motto, Audemus jura nostra defendere, usually translated as “We dare defend our rights.” The Latin and its grammar are discussed in Audemus jura nostra defendere (State Motto). Because the motto sits on the arms, it appears wherever the arms are displayed [2].

Where to see them

The emblems are visible on state certificates, on the front of government buildings, on the floors and walls of the capitol in Montgomery and in official publications. Students can also find reproductions in state history textbooks and on the website of the state archives. For the wider group of emblems, including the flag, bird and flower, see Alabama State Symbols [1][2].

FAQs

What is the Alabama Great Seal? The official seal used to authenticate state documents.

What is on the Alabama Great Seal? A map of the state showing its rivers and neighboring states.

What is the difference between the seal and the coat of arms? The seal authenticates documents, while the coat of arms is a heraldic symbol of the state.

What motto appears on the coat of arms? Audemus jura nostra defendere.

Who keeps the Great Seal? The Alabama Secretary of State.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: State of Alabama
2. Alabama Department of Archives and History: Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue