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Maryland is distinguished by being one of the few states in the United States (and in the world) to have a dual-sided official seal. Only the reverse side of the great seal of Maryland has ever been cut (and is the side used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other official purposes).
The images displayed on the reverse side of the seal are a plowman, a fisherman, and a shield with Maryland's coat of arms. The Latin phrase encircling the seal: "Scuto bonæ voluntatis tuæ coronasti noss" translates as "With favor wilt thou compass us as with a shield." The state motto (appearing on a banner below the shield) is in Italian: "Fatti maschii, parole femine," which translates loosely as "Manly deeds, womanly words" (now more commonly expressed as "Strong deeds, gentle words").
The obverse of the great seal of Maryland shows Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armor mounted on a charger. The Latin inscription translates as "Cecilius, Absolute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron of Baltimore."
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