"Eureka"
has appeared on the state seal since 1849. The Greek
means "I have found it". The words likely
were intended to refer to the discovery of gold in
California. The famed Greek mathematician, Archimedes,
is said to have exclaimed "Eureka!" when
he discovered a method of determining the purity of
gold.
"Eureka" was made the official state motto
in 1963 despite attempts in 1957 to establish "In
God We Trust" as the state motto.
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