Colorado State Motto

The official state motto of Colorado is “Nil sine Numine” which in the exact translation from Latin means “Nothing without the Deity”. Although it’s sometimes translated “Nothing without Providence”, the original designers of the state seal specifically intended the meaning to include the word Deity. This rendering means any divinity, god or goddess. Only 4 of the states specifically mention the word “God” in their motto; Arizona, Florida, Ohio and South Dakota. There are only 3 more states which make reference to “God”; Colorado, Connecticut and Maine, and while being denomination non-specific all are considered religious in nature.

After the United States Congress passed a bill making Colorado a territory in 1861, it was important that a unique seal be designed to represent the territory on all official documents. It was the first Territorial Governor, William Gilpin, who entrusted the design of the new seal to then Secretary of the Territory, L. C. Weld. On November 6, 1861, by Joint Resolution, the First Territorial Assembly adopted the new Territorial Seal and with it the motto “Nil Sine Numine”, credited to William Gilpin himself, as the official Colorado State Seal on March 15, 1877. It’s interesting to note that Gilpin county in Colorado is named after this Governor.

In the Colorado Statutes, Title 24, Article 80, Part 9, Section 24-80-901. This statute describes the Colorado State Seal, and the motto which is incorporated into the statute.

“The seal of the state shall be two and one-half inches in diameter, with the following device inscribed thereon: An heraldic shield bearing in chief, or upon the upper portion of the same, upon a red ground three snow-capped mountains; above surrounding clouds; upon the lower part thereof upon a golden ground a miner’s badge, as prescribed by the rules of heraldry; as a crest above the shield, the eye of God, being golden rays proceeding from the lines of a triangle; below the crest and above the shield, as a scroll, the Roman fasces bearing upon a band of red, white, and blue the words, “Union and Constitution”; below the whole the motto, “Nil Sine Numine”; the whole to be surrounded by the words, “State of Colorado”, and the figures ’1876′.”