Seal of New York City

Seal of New York City
Armiger	New York City
Adopted	1915 (modified 1977)
Crest	An American eagle with wings displayed, upon a hemisphere
Shield	Saltire-wise, the sails of a windmill. Between the sails, in chief a beaver, in base a beaver, and on each flank a flour barrel.
Supporters	Dexter (bearer's right, viewer's left), a sailor, his right arm bent, and holding in his right hand a plummet; his left arm bent, his left hand resting on the top of the shield; above his right shoulder, a cross-staff. Sinister (bearer's left, viewer's right), an Indian of Manhattan, his right arm bent, his right hand resting on top of the shield, his left hand holding the upper end of a bow, the lower end of which rests on the ground.
Motto	Sigillum Civitatis Novi Eboraci (Latin for "Seal of the City of New York")
Other elements	Shield and supporters rest upon a horizontal laurel branch. Beneath the horizontal laurel branch the date 1625. A laurel wreath encircles the seal.
Earlier version(s)	Many, dating to 1654
Use	On documents from the city, as a symbol identifying officers of the city, adorning city property and the city flag

The seal of New York City is the city's official corporate insignia. According to the city's Administrative Code, it is used to identify documents or publications issued under the authority of the city or its departments. It is also engraved into property owned by the city, used to identify officers of the city, and featured on the city's flag.

New York City has had a seal since 1654, when the city was the Dutch settlement known as New Amsterdam. The seal has since undergone multiple changes, and for a period the city had multiple seals. These changes and multiple seals largely resulted from the city's transition to British and, later, American control, as well as from tensions between the mayor and the city's elected council. The current seal was designed in 1915 and most recently modified in 1977.

The city clerk of New York City is the custodian of the city seal.