A banner below the shield shows the motto ', a Latin word meaning "higher", "superior", "lordly", commonly translated as "Ever Upward." Following the adoption of the 2021 State Budget in April 2020, a secondary motto, E pluribus unum, appears. The pre 2020 flag is still used on most occasions The shield is surmounted by a crest consisting of an eagle surmounting a world globe. The flag of New York''' is the coat of arms on a solid blue background and the stateseal of New York is the coat of arms surrounded by the words "The Great Seal of the State of New York."
According to Joseph Gavit in New York History, Volume XXXI, the seal symbolizes the following:
In the center, a shield reveals the sun rising behind Mount Beacon over the Hudson River. "The shield symbolizes in the full sun the name and idea of Old York and the old world; the mountains, river and meadow, with the ships, convey the name and idea of New York in the new world."
To the right, Justice is ready to fight tyranny with her sword held high.
Liberty on the left, holds her foot on the overthrown English Crown. "This New York is supported by Justice and Liberty, and discards monarchy."
The world globe is displayed above the shield. "By exhibiting the eastern and western continents on the globe, the old and new are brought together;"
Above the world globe soars the eagle. "while the eagle on the crest proclaims," Westward the course of empire takes its way."
The bottom ribbon exclaims "Excelsior," which means "still higher" or "ever upward."
History
The coat of arms of the state flag was adopted in 1778 and the present flag is a modern version of a Revolutionary War flag. The original is at the Albany Institute of History & Art. The legislature changed the field of the flag from buff to blue by a law enacted on April 2, 1901. In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial, and Canadian provincial flags. After the survey was completed, NAVA members chose the flag of New York to be ranked 53rd out of the 72. In April 2020, the 2021 State Budget was passed, modifying the coat of arms to include "E Pluribus Unum" as a secondary motto beneath "Excelsior". The state seal and flag were also updated as well to reflect the change.
