Vermont Coat of Arms

History of the Vermont Coat of Arms

Vermont Coat of Arms - Courtesy of the Vermont Arts Council

The first Vermont coat of arms was an engraving for use on military commissions, made in 1821 when the original state seal was revised by rearranging some of the features in pictorial form. It placed the picture in a shield surmounted by the stag’s head crest, with the motto beneath, and the whole was put under the outspread wings of the American eagle with full panoply of war. The crest was a new feature, possibly invented by the Secretary of State, Robert Temple, or perhaps by the Boston engraver who designed the commission. Although no law provided for a coat of arms, it was in official use in this form, with slight modifications, until 1862.

When the Civil War broke out, there was need for a coat of arms and crest for military purposes. The crest had been used for some years on military buttons, but search for an authentic description of the Coat of Arms revealed that there was no law making this provision. Professor George W. Benedict of Burlington wrote a description in quasi-heraldic terms, and this was incorporated into the statutes by No. 11 of the Acts of 1862.

Source: Vermont Department of Libraries; Condensed from an article entitled “The Coat of Arms and Great Seal of Vermont” prepared by John P. Clement and first published in the VERMONT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY of 1939.

Description of the Vermont Coat of Arms

Any painting which follows the description faithfully will be a sound representation. The law does not specify any particular mountains or view. The shield may be of any shape, with any sort of border or none. There must be a landscape of natural color in the foreground or base, with high mountains of blue above and extending into a yellow sky. There must be a pine tree of natural color extending from near the base to the top; sheaves of grain three in number and yellow, placed diagonally on the right side; and a red cow standing on the left side of the field. The motto, badge, crest, and scroll must conform to the description.

Source: Vermont Department of Libraries; Condensed from an article entitled “The Coat of Arms and Great Seal of Vermont” prepared by John P. Clement and first published in the VERMONT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY of 1939.

Examples of the Vermont Coat of Arms

The REVISED STATUTES of 1840 has a title-page vignette of a Coat of Arms much like that of 1821, but with the addition of crossed pine branches beneath the shield. These are said to represent the pine sprigs worn by Vermonters at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814. A version which appeared on commissions issued about 1858 replaced the pine branches with plumes, and appears to have followed the carving over the desk of the Speaker of the House in its original form.

Probably the carving over the painting of the “Battle of Cedar Creek” by Julian Scott in the State House reception room most clearly represents what the 1862 Legislature had in mind, since it conforms very closely to the official versions in use shortly after the Act of 1862. At that time a painting made by Charles R. Heyde of Burlington, and intended to be the official version, was placed in the custody of the Secretary of State. It was replaced by the present painting in that office dated 1898, and Heyde’s painting appears to be lost. Fortunately, Charles Reed furnished a description by Professor Benedict soon after the painting was made. This states that the high mountains are Camel’s Hump and Mansfield, traced in outline from a point opposite Burlington. This viewpoint was selected because it was thought Samuel de Champlain first saw the Green Mountains from that vicinity, and also because it was thought that travelers on the Lake would remember that view. The description also states that all objects in the Coat of Arms were modeled after the best specimens that could be found.

Probably all the versions since 1862 conform more or less closely to the terms of the law, as did most of those from 1821 to 1862 even before the legal guide was furnished. The earlier versions, however, usually omitted the badge of crossed pine branches. There is no complete collection of all the versions.

Source: Vermont Department of Libraries; Condensed from an article entitled “The Coat of Arms and Great Seal of Vermont” prepared by John P. Clement and first published in the VERMONT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY of 1939.