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New York is one of the few American states to possess a genuine coat of arms in the European heraldic tradition — complete with a shield, supporters, crest, and motto. Designed by Governor George Clinton and Chancellor Robert R. Livingston in 1778, during the Revolutionary War, it places Liberty (her foot on a British crown, a Phrygian cap on her staff) and Justice (blindfolded, sword and scales) on either side of a shield showing ships on the Hudson River beneath a rising sun. An American eagle perches on a globe above, and the motto Excelsior (“Ever Upward”) has driven New York’s identity for nearly 250 years. In 2020, the legislature added E Pluribus Unum as a secondary motto.
| State | New York (11th state, ratified 26 July 1788) |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Empire State |
| Coat of arms | Shield with Hudson River ships, Liberty & Justice supporters, eagle on globe |
| Arms adopted | 1778 (George Clinton & Robert R. Livingston) |
| Motto | Excelsior (“Ever Upward”) + E Pluribus Unum (added 2020) |
| State flag | Dark blue field with coat of arms |
| Flag adopted | 2 April 1901 |
| Capital | Albany |
| Largest city | New York City |
| Heraldic type | True coat of arms (shield, supporters, crest, motto) |
Coat of Arms of New York — Liberty, Justice, Hudson ships, Excelsior
New York’s coat of arms is a full heraldic achievement — one of the few among American state symbols that follows classical European heraldic conventions.
The shield displays a landscape of the Hudson River Valley: a masted ship and a sloop sailing on the river, symbolising foreign and inland commerce. A grassy shore lines the foreground, with a mountain range in the background and the sun rising behind the peaks — representing the dawn of a new nation.
Above the shield, an American eagle with spread wings perches on a globe — representing New York’s global ambitions and its position as the gateway to America.
The primary motto — Excelsior (“Ever Upward”) — has been New York’s state motto since 1778. In April 2020, the legislature added E Pluribus Unum (“Out of Many, One”) as a secondary motto, reflecting New York’s identity as the most diverse state in the Union.
The arms were designed by Governor George Clinton and Chancellor Robert R. Livingston in 1778, during the height of the American Revolution. The committee that created the first seal in 1777 intended it for “all the purposes for which the Crown Seal was used under the Colony” — a deliberate assertion that New York was now a sovereign state, not a British possession.
Flag of New York — Dark blue with coat of arms, adopted 1901
The New York state flag is a dark blue field bearing the full coat of arms in the centre. It was adopted on 2 April 1901, restoring the original dark blue background after a period of using a buff (cream) field.
While vexillologists often criticise “seal on a bedsheet” state flags, New York’s is distinguished by the richness of its heraldic composition — the allegorical figures of Liberty and Justice, the detailed Hudson River landscape, and the eagle on the globe make it one of the most artistically ambitious state flags in the country, even if it suffers from the same distance-recognition problems as its peers.
The arms feature a shield with ships on the Hudson River, a rising sun, and mountains. Liberty (foot on a crown, Phrygian cap staff) and Justice (blindfolded, sword and scales) support the shield. An eagle on a globe sits above. The mottos Excelsior and E Pluribus Unum appear below.
Excelsior is Latin for “Ever Upward” — New York’s motto since 1778. In 2020, E Pluribus Unum (“Out of Many, One”) was added as a secondary motto.
Liberty’s foot on a British crown symbolises New York’s freedom from the monarchy. The arms were adopted in 1778, during the Revolutionary War, making this a direct statement of independence.
The flag — dark blue with the coat of arms — was adopted on 2 April 1901. The coat of arms itself dates to 1778, designed by Governor George Clinton and Chancellor Robert R. Livingston.
Yes. Unlike most US state seals, New York’s follows European conventions: a proper shield, supporters (Liberty and Justice), a crest (eagle on globe), and a motto scroll. It is one of the few American state symbols that qualifies as a true coat of arms.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-25.