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The Kentucky State Seal was adopted in December of 1792. The seal is a rendition of two men, one in buckskin, and the other in more formal dress. The men are facing each other and clasping hands. The outer ring of the seal is adorned with the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky", and within the inner circle is the state motto "United we stand, Divided we fall."

Popular belief claims that the buckskin-clad man on the left is Daniel Boone, who was largely responsible for the exploration of Kentucky, and the man in the suit on the right is Henry Clay, Kentucky's most famous statesman. However, the official explanation is that the men represent all frontiersmen and statesmen, rather than any specific persons.^[1] The motto that appears on the seal comes from the lyrics of "The Liberty Song", a patriotic song from the American Revolution.

The official language establishing the seal is: "That the Governor be empowered and is hereby required to provide at the public charge a seal for this Commonwealth; and procure the same to be engraved with the following device, viz: Two friends embracing, with the name of the state over their heads and around about the following motto: United we stand, divided we fall."

Because this description does not specify what the "two friends" should look like or how they should be embracing, several variants of the state seal were created. Different depictions of the seal at the courthouse have the friends outfitted in various clothing from coats and tophats to Roman togas. The embrace is shown as clasped hands, a hug, or a handshake combined with hands on one another shoulders.

A version of the seal appears on the flag of Kentucky.

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