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State Great Seals #2 Trivia Quiz

The second half of the "State Great Seals" quiz. Same rules as before.

A multiple-choice quiz by tralfaz. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
tralfaz

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
162,941

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
14 / 25

Plays
779

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Montana: An (almost) over-legislated seal. When the territory became a state, there were proposals to make the following additions: 41 stars to represent the states, Indians, more buffalo, settlers and their wagons, a train, a stagecoach, horses, sheep, cattle, a miner, a mill, a schoolhouse, a stream, an irrigated field amongst other changes. How many changes ultimately were accepted? Hint

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Question 2 of 25

2. Nebraska: What occupation is portrayed? Hint

Soldier

Teacher

Blacksmith

Doctor

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Question 3 of 25

3. Nevada: What motto is on the seal? Hint

Battle Born

Volens et Potens

All for Our Country

Willing and Able

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Question 4 of 25

4. New Hampshire: The ship on the seal is a specific one. What is her name? Hint

Portsmouth

Bonhomme Richard

Constitution

Raleigh

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Question 5 of 25

5. New Jersey: Two women are on the seal. One is Liberty. Which Roman goddess is the other? Hint

Ceres

Minerva

Juno

Venus

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Question 6 of 25

6. New Mexico: Which country does the eagle in the seal represent - the United States or Mexico? Hint

Neither

Both

The United States

Mexico

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Question 7 of 25

7. New York: What area of the world is shown on the globe? Hint

The North Atlantic

The North Pole

The Northeastern US

The Northern Hemisphere

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Question 8 of 25

8. North Carolina: Why was the seal discussed in the General Assembly in 1971? Hint

The seal had never been standardized

To symbolize the state's bicentennial

To change the date on the seal

To remove symbols of the Confederacy

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Question 9 of 25

9. North Dakota: This seal has a very long motto. Which of these phases is NOT part of the motto? Hint

Brave and Free

Now and Forever

Liberty and Union

One and Inseparable

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Question 10 of 25

10. Ohio: Many seals use stars to represent the state's number. For example the seal of the 34th state (Kansas) has 34 stars on it. Ohio (the 17th state) has 17 of what on its seal? Hint

Arrows

Boats

Grapevines

Mountains

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Question 11 of 25

11. Oklahoma: The arms of the huge center star represent the five _______ of Oklahoma. Hint

Indian nations

Regions

Counties

Original settler families

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Question 12 of 25

12. Oregon: There are many pro-American symbols in this seal. One of which is a banner that says what? Hint

Equal Justice

The Union

Liberty and Freedom

Independence

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Question 13 of 25

13. Pennsylvania: There is an error on this seal. What is it? Hint

It uses the word "State" instead of "Commonwealth"

The Ohio River runs eastward

The oil derrick shown is not the same as the first one to strike oil

The Latin Pennsylvanium is a mistranslation of "Penn's Forest"

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Question 14 of 25

14. Rhode Island: The oldest of seals. When was this seal first used in its current form (An anchor and "HOPE")?
Hint

1636

1644

1628

1652

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Question 15 of 25

15. South Carolina: There are two palmettos on this seal. One is upright and one is broken. What does the broken one represent? Hint

The Confederate States

A hurricane

British ships

Charleston Harbor

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Question 16 of 25

16. South Dakota: What phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance in also in the seal? Hint

One Nation

Under God

Indivisible

With Liberty and Justice for All

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Question 17 of 25

17. Tennessee: What are the Roman numerals on the seal? Hint

MDCCXCVI (1796 - The year of statehood)

XLIII (To honor the USS Tennessee [BB-43])

XVI (for the 16th state)

III (The 3 regions of the state [like the 3 stars on the flag])

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Question 18 of 25

18. Texas: Which of these branches is on the left side of the seal? Hint

Live Oak

Rose

Olive

White Maple

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Question 19 of 25

19. Utah: In the middle is the year 1847. What happened during this year? Hint

The first Mormons settled in the region

Utah became a state

The beehive was adopted as the official emblem

The territory of Deseret was created

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Question 20 of 25

20. Vermont: What tree is displayed on the seal? Hint

Elm

Maple

Pine

Birch

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Question 21 of 25

21. Virginia: Combining the obverse and the reverse, there are four Roman goddess on the seal. Which is on the obverse? Hint

Libertas

Virtus

Aeternitas

Ceres

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Question 22 of 25

22. Washington: The original engraving of George Washington was based on a picture on what? Hint

A box of cough syrup

A can of meat

A postage stamp

A currency note

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Question 23 of 25

23. West Virginia: When studying the Great Seals, one sees that they change quite often. The seal for West Virginia by contrast has changed very little over the years. Exactly how many times has it changed? Hint

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Question 24 of 25

24. Wisconsin: What one-word motto is displayed? Hint

Expansion

Progress

Forward

Future

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Question 25 of 25

25. Wyoming: What animal is shown on the seal? Hint

Eagle

Cow

Buffalo

Horse

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: 1

The word "Territory" was changed to "State". That's not the end of the story. The engraver altered some elements of the legislated design to make his job easier.

2. Nebraska: What occupation is portrayed?

Answer: Blacksmith

The symbols on the seal represent industry and agriculture.

3. Nevada: What motto is on the seal?

Answer: All for Our Country

Volens et Potens (English translation is Willing and Able) was the motto on the territorial seal. Battle Born is the motto on the state flag.

4. New Hampshire: The ship on the seal is a specific one. What is her name?

Answer: Raleigh

Originally authorized in 1784, the design of the state seal was constantly modified by various artists. The state reauthorized the original seal in 1931 to bring it under legislative control. The Raleigh was one of the first ships in the Navy created by the Continental Congress.

5. New Jersey: Two women are on the seal. One is Liberty. Which Roman goddess is the other?

Answer: Ceres

The Roman goddess of grain represents the agricultural history of New Jersey.

6. New Mexico: Which country does the eagle in the seal represent - the United States or Mexico?

Answer: Both

The larger American eagle has his wing protectively covering the smaller Mexican eagle.

7. New York: What area of the world is shown on the globe?

Answer: The North Atlantic

The coat of arms in the middle is flanked by Liberty and Justice. New York State Consolidated Laws, section 70, states that both figures must have their hair disheveled.

8. North Carolina: Why was the seal discussed in the General Assembly in 1971?

Answer: The seal had never been standardized

Up to 1971, the design of the seal was changed to suit the whims of whichever Secretary of State was in office.

9. North Dakota: This seal has a very long motto. Which of these phases is NOT part of the motto?

Answer: Brave and Free

A key point of this seal that that the symbols sit in a wide open plain representing the prairies of the state.

10. Ohio: Many seals use stars to represent the state's number. For example the seal of the 34th state (Kansas) has 34 stars on it. Ohio (the 17th state) has 17 of what on its seal?

Answer: Arrows

The arrows are in a bundle in the front left of the seal. The river on the seal is the Scioto River which separates the fields from Mount Logan.

11. Oklahoma: The arms of the huge center star represent the five _______ of Oklahoma.

Answer: Indian nations

Extra Credit: Name the 5 nations. Starting at the top and clockwise - Chickasaw Nation (a warrior with a bow and shield), Choctaw Nation (a bow, three arrows, and a tomahawk), Seminole Nation (a hunter in a canoe), Creek Nation (a sheaf of wheat and plow), and Cherokee Nation (a seven-pointed star and wreath of oak leaves).

12. Oregon: There are many pro-American symbols in this seal. One of which is a banner that says what?

Answer: The Union

Oregon's drive to go from territory to statehood in 1859 has a lot to do with the issues prior to the Civil War. As a state, Oregon would have soveriegnty that a territory (being directly controlled by Washington DC) does not. As such they could deal with race issues as they saw fit and not answer to the US government.

13. Pennsylvania: There is an error on this seal. What is it?

Answer: It uses the word "State" instead of "Commonwealth"

Despite its official name being The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Secretary of the Commonwealth uses a seal that says "The Seal of the State of Pennsylvania".

14. Rhode Island: The oldest of seals. When was this seal first used in its current form (An anchor and "HOPE")?

Answer: 1644

The 1636 on the seal refers to the original design (an anchor without the word "Hope").

15. South Carolina: There are two palmettos on this seal. One is upright and one is broken. What does the broken one represent?

Answer: British ships

The two palmettos represent the battle on Sullivan's Island (28 June 1776). The upright tree represent the successful defenders.

16. South Dakota: What phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance in also in the seal?

Answer: Under God

Unlike most states that create a great seal after being made a state (sometimes by changing "Territory" to "State"), South Dakota adopted their state great seal in 1885 - four years BEFORE becoming a state.

17. Tennessee: What are the Roman numerals on the seal?

Answer: XVI (for the 16th state)

A fairly straightforward seal. Whereas other states use symbols and/or mottos to represent ideals, Tennessee uses the words "Agriculture" and "Commerce".

18. Texas: Which of these branches is on the left side of the seal?

Answer: Live Oak

Olive branches are on the right. The Live Oak represents strength and the Olive represents peace.

19. Utah: In the middle is the year 1847. What happened during this year?

Answer: The beehive was adopted as the official emblem

This year is below a beehive and the word "Industry". The year of statehood (1896) is also on the seal.

20. Vermont: What tree is displayed on the seal?

Answer: Pine

No, I did not mix up this answer with the question on Maine! This seal is very basic. Over the years, more complex seals were adopted, but in 1937 the state legislature decided to go back to the original (1779) seal.

21. Virginia: Combining the obverse and the reverse, there are four Roman goddess on the seal. Which is on the obverse?

Answer: Virtus

She has conquered the tyrant. Notice the symbolism in that the tyrant's crown has fallen off.

22. Washington: The original engraving of George Washington was based on a picture on what?

Answer: A box of cough syrup

The original design was of Mount Ranier, the port of Tacoma, fields, and livestock. Charles Talcott instead used a postage stamp to sketch out a picture of George Washington. This stamp did not have enough detail to use as a model for engraving, so he used a portrait off the box of cough syrup.

Answer: 0

Since West Virginia was never a territory, the original seal even included the word "State".

24. Wisconsin: What one-word motto is displayed?

Answer: Forward

An interesting note: the pyramid of metal next to the cornucopia is pig lead.

25. Wyoming: What animal is shown on the seal?

Answer: Eagle

This seal is placed on the outline of a buffalo on the state flag.

Source: Author tralfaz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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