Coat of arms of Saint Helena
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Saint Helena
was authorised on January 30, 1984.
The arms feature a shield, with the top third showing the national bird, the Saint Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae, known locally as the Wirebird - stylized, but with its unmistakable head pattern. The bottom two thirds depict a coastal scene of the island, a three-masted sailing ship with the mountainous island to the left. The coastal scene is taken from the colonial seal of the colony and shows the flag of England
flying from the ship (when the shield was first introduced in 1874 the flag was a White Ensign
).
The motto is Loyal and unshakable. The full coat of arms features, above the shield, a woman holding a cross and a flower. This represents Helena of Constantinople
, also known as Saint Helena, after whom the island is named. The cross is shown as Helena is credited with finding the relics of the True Cross
(cross upon which Jesus
was crucified).
The local two pound coin has the full coat of arms on its reverse.
uses its own arms
, while Ascension Island
uses the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
.
The shield of the arms feature on the flag of Saint Helena
and the Governor's flag
.
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
was authorised on January 30, 1984.
The arms feature a shield, with the top third showing the national bird, the Saint Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae, known locally as the Wirebird - stylized, but with its unmistakable head pattern. The bottom two thirds depict a coastal scene of the island, a three-masted sailing ship with the mountainous island to the left. The coastal scene is taken from the colonial seal of the colony and shows the flag of England
Flag of England
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross . The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England...
flying from the ship (when the shield was first introduced in 1874 the flag was a White Ensign
White Ensign
The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
).
The motto is Loyal and unshakable. The full coat of arms features, above the shield, a woman holding a cross and a flower. This represents Helena of Constantinople
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
, also known as Saint Helena, after whom the island is named. The cross is shown as Helena is credited with finding the relics of the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
(cross upon which Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
was crucified).
The local two pound coin has the full coat of arms on its reverse.
Arms usage by dependencies
The arms are not used by Saint Helena's dependencies. Tristan da CunhaTristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
uses its own arms
Coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha
The coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha was granted in 2002.-Features:The arms consist of a shield featuring four albatrosses in a blue-and-white mirror image design. The two supporters are Tristan rock lobsters, which are found in the waters surrounding the island...
, while Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
uses the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
.
The shield of the arms feature on the flag of Saint Helena
Flag of Saint Helena
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory in the south Atlantic Ocean. Each of the three parts of the territory flies a different flag.The Flag of Saint Helena was adopted on October 4, 1984...
and the Governor's flag
Governor of Saint Helena
The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
.
See also
- Coat of arms of Tristan da CunhaCoat of arms of Tristan da CunhaThe coat of arms of Tristan da Cunha was granted in 2002.-Features:The arms consist of a shield featuring four albatrosses in a blue-and-white mirror image design. The two supporters are Tristan rock lobsters, which are found in the waters surrounding the island...
- List of coats of arms of the United Kingdom and dependencies