New Jersey State Motto: Liberty and Prosperity
Fact-checked • Updated December 6, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Liberty and Prosperity"
Liberty and Prosperity
About This Motto
The New Jersey state motto is Liberty and Prosperity. These powerful words appear on the state's Great Seal and flag. New Jersey adopted this motto as part of its official seal in 1777. The phrase honors the colonists' declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. Liberty and Prosperity captures the hopes and aspirations of a newly independent people.
What the Motto Means
Liberty and Prosperity speaks to core American values. The word Liberty means freedom from oppression and tyranny. It refers to the rights of citizens to govern themselves. Prosperity means economic success and abundance. It describes the wealth that comes from hard work and fertile land.
The New Jersey state motto pairs political freedom with economic opportunity. New Jersey's founders believed these two goals worked together. Free people could build successful farms and businesses. Prosperous communities could protect their independence. The words remind residents that liberty creates the conditions for prosperity to thrive.
Historical Background
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1776 - Declaration of Independence
New Jersey declared independence from Britain in 1776. The Provincial Congress met that summer to create a new state constitution. This constitution established New Jersey as a free state. The year 1776 appears on the Great Seal to commemorate this moment. Colonial rule ended and self-government began.
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1776-1777 - Seal Design Begins
In 1776, the New Jersey Legislature decided the governor's seal should become the state seal. Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey legislator and signer of the Declaration of Independence, created conceptual sketches for the design. The legislature contracted with Pierre Eugene du Simitiere to create the artistic version. Du Simitiere was a Swiss artist living in Philadelphia. He had worked on the Great Seal of the United States and also designed seals for Delaware and Georgia.
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May 1777 - Seal Officially Adopted
Du Simitiere presented his completed design to the Legislature in May 1777. The Legislature was meeting at the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield. They accepted the design, which featured Liberty and Ceres as supporting figures. The words Liberty and Prosperity appeared on a scroll beneath the shield. Du Simitiere added elements like the horse's head and helmet that weren't in the original legislative resolution.
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1928 - Seal Standardization
Differences existed between the original legislative resolution and du Simitiere's final design. In 1928, the New Jersey Legislature passed Joint Resolution 8. This resolution standardized all the seal's details. It confirmed elements like the helmet, the date 1776 in Arabic numerals, and the words Liberty and Prosperity. The 1928 version of the seal remains in use today.
Where You See It Today
The Liberty and Prosperity motto appears prominently on New Jersey's Great Seal. The seal shows two female figures standing beside a shield. Liberty holds a staff topped with a liberty cap. Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain, holds a cornucopia filled with harvested produce. A scroll beneath them displays the motto. The seal is used on official state documents and government letterhead.
New Jersey's state flag also features the motto. The legislature adopted the flag on May 11, 1896. It displays the Great Seal on a buff-colored field. Buff is a yellowish-tan color. George Washington chose buff and dark blue as the colors for New Jersey's army regiments during the Revolutionary War. The flag flies at government buildings, schools, and public spaces throughout the state.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
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Pierre Eugene du Simitiere also designed the Great Seal of Delaware and created the first known portrait of George Washington in 1779.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official information about New Jersey's Great Seal history and design. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Comprehensive overview of New Jersey's official state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Detailed history of New Jersey's seal, flag, and coat of arms. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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