State Seal of Illinois
In 1819, the 1st Illinois General Assembly adopted the first seal of the state of Illinois which was a copy of the Great Seal of the United States. It was redesigned first in 1839 and then in 1867.
It depicts an American bald eagle holding a shield with his talons and a banner with his beak. The banner has the state’s motto ”State Sovereignty, National Union” written on it. The year 1818 when Illinois entered statehood and the year 1868 when the seal was adopted are both mentioned on the seal.