Colorado State Seal: Decoding Its Symbolism And History

Colorado became America's 38th state on August 1st, 1876, just 28 days after the centennial anniversary of the nation. The following spring, the first general assembly approved a statute that detailed Colorado's official state seal.

Read More: Colorado State Flag: What's the Real Meaning

Colorado's state seal is nearly a carbon copy of the territory seal used from 1861 to 1876. Keep reading for a closer look at the colors and symbols in Colorado's state seal.

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Colorado's State Seal

The Colorado Statue of 1877 describes the colors and symbols of the seal. It starts with an outer circle with the words State of Colorado.

• Eye of God: At the top of the inner circle is the all-seeing eye of God within a triangle. Golden rays radiate outward from behind. The same symbol is found on the dollar bill.
• The Scroll: Below is a scroll known as the Roman fasces. The symbol is believed to imply a republic form of government and full civil and military power. Birch rods with a battle axe are tied together by bands of red, white, and blue with the words “union” and “constitution” that defined the territory’s stance on civil war during 1861.
• Colorado's Shield: The shield has three snowcapped mountains with clouds in the sky to highlight the geography, above a pick and sledgehammer crossed over golden ground to represent the mineral wealth.
• Colorado's Motto: Under the shield is the motto “Nil Sine Numine.” Latin for “nothing without the Deity.” Below is the year Colorado became a state, in 1876.

The Mysterious Stars

There is no mention of the six stars that appear on Colorado’s state seal in the original 1877 statue. If the Colorado General Assembly did not ask for them to be included in the design, how did they end up on the seal years later? It's a Colorado mystery without an official explanation.