{{Short description|Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Michigan}} {{Infobox coat of arms |name = Great Seal of the State of Michigan |image = Seal of Michigan.svg |image_width = 200 |middle = |middle_width = |middle_caption = |lesser = |lesser_width = |lesser_caption = |image2 = |image2_width = 40 |image2_caption = |image3 = |image3_width = |image3_caption = |armiger = State of Michigan |year_adopted = July 22, 1835 (standardized 1911) |crest = |torse = |shield = |supporters = |compartment = |motto = {{ubl|{{lang|la|E Pluribus Unum}}|{{lang|la|Tuebor}}|{{lang|la|Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice}}}} |orders = |other_elements = |earlier_versions = |use = }}

The '''Great Seal of the State of Michigan''' depicts the [[coat of arms]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]] on a light blue field. On the dark blue shield the [[Sun]] rises over a lake and [[peninsula]], a [[man]] with a raised hand in peace and his other hand holding a long [[gun]], representing a readiness to defend the state and nation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Office of the Great Seal |url=https://www.michigan.gov/sos/notary-services/great-seal |website=State of Michigan}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=State Seal |url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/MichiganManual/2009-2010MichiganManual/Seal-WEB.pdf |website=[[Michigan Legislature]]}}</ref> The [[elk]] and [[moose]] are symbols of [[Michigan]], while the [[bald eagle]] represents the [[United States]].<ref name=":0" />

The design features three [[Latin]] mottos. From top to bottom they are: #On the red ribbon: {{lang|la|[[E Pluribus Unum]]}}, "Out of many, one", a motto of the United States #On the blue shield: {{lang|la|Tuebor}}, "I will defend",<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=tueor |editor1-first=Charlton T. |editor1-last=Lewis |editor2-first=Charles |editor2-last=Short |encyclopedia=A Latin Dictionary |title=tŭĕor |publisher=Tufts University |via=Perseus Digital Library |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref> meant to emphasize Michigan's being located at a national boundary<ref name=":1" /> #On the white ribbon: {{lang|la|Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice}}, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you", which is the official state motto. It was adopted in 1835 and is said to have been suggested by the tribute to architect [[Christopher Wren]] at [[Saint Paul's Cathedral]] in London, which reads {{lang|la|Si monumentum requiris, circumspice}} (Latin "If you seek [his] monument, look around you").

This seal was adopted in the year of 1835, on June 22.<ref>{{cite book |first= Silas |last= Farmer |year= 1884 |url=https://archive.org/stream/cihm_02950#page/n141/mode/2up/search/seal |title=The History of Detroit and Michigan, or, The Metropolis Illustrated: A Chronological Cyclopaedia of the Past and Present Including a Full Record of Territorial Days in Michigan, and the Annuals of Wayne County |location= Detroit |publisher=Silas Farmer & Co |page=91 |access-date= May 14, 2012}}</ref>

Public Act 19 of 1963 states that "The great seal shall be {{sic|comprised|hide=y| of}} the coat of arms of the state around which shall appear the words 'great seal of the state of Michigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV'."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/michigan/mi-laws/michigan_laws_2-42 |title=Michigan Laws Chapter 2; Act 19 of 1963; §&nbsp;2.42 – Great seal; description |work=LawServer |access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref>

==Coat of arms of Michigan== {{Infobox coat of arms |name = Coat of arms of the State of Michigan |image = Coat of arms of Michigan.svg |image_width = 200 |middle = |middle_width = |middle_caption = |lesser = |lesser_width = |lesser_caption = |image2 = Michigan state coat of arms (illustrated, 1876).jpg |image2_width = 200 |image2_caption = [[Historical coats of arms of the U.S. states|Historical coat of arms]] (1876) |image3 = |image3_width = |image3_caption = |armiger = State of Michigan |year_adopted = June 22, 1835 (standardized 1911) |crest = |torse = |shield = |supporters = |compartment = |motto = {{lang|la|E Pluribus Unum}}<br>{{lang|la|Tuebor}}<br>{{lang|la|Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice}} |orders = |other_elements = |earlier_versions = |use = }}

Legally distinct from, but adopted simultaneously alongside the Great Seal in 1835, is the coat of arms of Michigan. The coat of arms was re-asserted and its blazon defined by the Legislature in Act 209 of 1911 (MCL 2.21–22). It is identical to the Great Seal of Michigan with the legend or circle, "The Great Seal of the State of Michigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV", omitted. Unlike the Great Seal, the coat of arms may be printed on documents, stationery, or ornaments with no design or words and disconnected with any advertisement (MCL 750.247). However, a person who improperly exhibits and displays the coat of arms is guilty of a misdemeanor (MCL 750.245).

==Government seals of Michigan== <gallery> File:Seal of Michigan Governor.svg|[[Seals of the Governors of the U.S. States|Seal]] of the [[governor of Michigan]] File:Seal of Michigan Secretary of State.svg|Seal of the [[Michigan Secretary of State|secretary of state]] of Michigan File:Seal of Michigan Attorney General.svg|Seal of the [[Michigan Attorney General|attorney general]] of Michigan File:Seal of Michigan Department of Treasury.svg|Seal of the [[State Treasurer of Michigan|treasurer]] of Michigan </gallery>

==See also== {{Portal|Michigan}} * [[Flag of Michigan]] * [[List of Michigan state symbols]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline|Seals of Michigan}} * [https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_95527_95528-22823--,00.html Michigan Secretary of State: History of the Great Seal] {{US state coats of arms}} {{US state seals}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Michigan}} [[Category:United States state seals|Michigan]] [[Category:Symbols of Michigan]] [[Category:American coats of arms with eagles|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with deer|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with arrows|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with firearms|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with sunrays|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with suns|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with olive branches|Michigan]] [[Category:Coats of arms with moose]]