City Seal

The City Seal was adopted more than a century ago by the City Common Council on April 10, 1850. It had been designed earlier that same year by Lieutenant Alfred Sully, son of the celebrated American portrait painter, Thomas Sully, and one of a small group of young U.S. Army officers stationed in Monterey at the time.

• The shield is green (as the surroundings of the City are always green) and it describes the City as being born separate from the ancient domain of the United States by a bandolier which crosses the shield.
• The anchor, the sheaf, the horse, and the bull all show how hopeful the founders were for commerce to play an important part of the City's future.
• The rising sun expresses the hope that Monterey will be a rising city.
• The motto "Anda" means onward in Spanish and is symbolic of the spirit of the City of Monterey and expresses the hope for continued forward growth.

Click here to see a large color view of the seal.