The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia:
“On the obverse, Virtue, the genius of the Commonwealth, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword pointing upward; her head erect and face up-turned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny, represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming herewith, shall be the word Virginia, and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, ‘Sic Semper Tyrannis.’ ” 1
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Adopted in 1776 as the original composition of George Wythe, Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Secretary of State, Commonwealth of Virginia. “Sic Semper Tyrannis” translated from Latin, means: “Ever thus to Tyrants.”