State Seal of New Mexico
The official seal of New Mexico or the ”Great Seal of the State of New Mexico” was originally designed in 1851 for the Territory of Mexico. It was however lost and a new seal was adopted in 1860. After further modification in 1882, it was adopted through legislature as the ”official seal and coat of arms” in 1887.
The present-day seal was adopted in 1913. It features an American eagle protecting a Mexican eagle; the illustration represents US dominion over New Mexico. The cactus in the Mexican eagle’s talons and the snake in its beak represent Aztec mythology. ”Crescit Eundo” is written on the banner at the bottom; it means ”It grows as it goes” in Latin.