July 18, 1776

In July 1776, a committee of Virginians—including future signers of the Declaration of Independence George Wythe and Richard Henry Lee—created a new seal for the commonwealth. The obverse design featured Virtus, the Roman personification of virtues including wisdom, justice, and valor, and  “the genius of the Commonwealth.” Virtus stood on top of a man representing tyranny, with “a crown fallen from his head” and “a broken chain in his left hand.” Below this scene was the motto “sic semper tyrannis,” meaning “thus always to tyrants.” These words and symbols reflected the revolutionary spirit of 1776. 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

The following is intended to be engraved on the GREAT SEAL for the Commonwealth of Virgina.

Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed like an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand, and holding a sword in the other, and treading on Tyranny represented by a man prostrate, a crown fallen from his head, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right.

In the exergon the word Virginia over the head of Virtus, and underneath the words sic semper tyrannis.

On the reverse, a group, Libertas, with her wand and pileus.

On one side of her Ceres, with the cornucopia in one hand, and an ear of wheat in the other.

On the other side Æternitas, with the globe and Phoenix.

In the exergon these words, Deus nobis hæc etia fecit.