The
current Seal of the City and County of San
Francisco was adopted on March 1, 1859. In this
the main figures, a miner and a sailor, stand on either
side of a shield on which is depicted a steamer entering
the Golden Gate. At the bottom is a scroll with the words
"Oro en Paz, en Guerro Fierro," which is
Spanish for gold in peace, iron in war. At the
bottom also are the symbols of commerce, agriculture, and
mining. The crest is a Phoenix issuing from flames.
The Flag of
the City of San Francisco was designed by John
M. Gamble, and adopted on April 14, 1900. The Phoenix,
the crest of the city, taken from its seal, is used to
symbolize the municipality. Although originally intended
to symbolize the era of prosperity the city entered after
the consolidation of the City and County of San
Francisco, many now see the Phoenix as emblematic of the
city's rebirth following the earthquake and fire of 1906.
The Phoenix holds a banner bearing the motto "Oro en
Paz, Fierro en Guerra" (see above).