The coat of arms of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

(along with the flag), were developed by the College of Arms

College of Arms

The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...

 and granted in 1960. The shield on the arms depicts a lion beneath a zigzag border, representing the Lion Mountains, after which the country was named. It also shows three torches which are meant to symbolize peace and dignity. At the base are wavy bars depicting the sea. The supporters of the shield are lions, similar to those on the colonial badge. The three main colours from the shield - green, white and blue - were used to form the flag. The green represents agricultural and natural resources, the blue represents the Harbour of Freetown

Freetown

Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...

and the white represents unity and justice. At the bottom of the shield, the national motto can be seen.

Blazon

The Coat of Arms of Sierra Leone are described as:

(a) for arms-

1. Vert a lion passant or armed and langued gules.
2. A chief dancetée of three argent with three torches sables with flames gules.
3. In base argent with two wavy bars argent.

(b) for the supporters-

1. Two lions rampant of armed and langued gules, each supporting a coconut tree.
2. They stand on a grassy field proper.

(c) with the motto "Unity, Freedom, Justice”.