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The Great Seal of Maryland is used by the Governor and the
Secretary of State to authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other official purposes. The Secretary
of State is the designated custodian of the Great Seal, and provides guidance on its use.
Great Seal of Maryland consists of an escutcheon, or shield,
bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's coronet and a full-faced helmet. The escutcheon
is supported on one side by a farmer and on the other by a fisherman. It symbolizes Lord Baltimore's two estates:
Maryland, and Avalon in Newfoundland.
The obverse of the Great Seal of Maryland shows Lord Baltimore as a knight
in full armor mounted on a charger. The inscription translated is "Cecilius, Absolute Lord of Maryland and
Avalon, Baron of Baltimore"
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