Coat of arms of Jamaica

The coat of arms of Jamaica is a heraldic symbol used to represent Jamaica. The coat of arms is a legacy design, with its earliest iteration having been granted for the colony of Jamaica in 1661 under Royal Warrant. The original design was created by William Sancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury. The present design was adopted after Jamaican independence in 1962, with slight modification.

Coat of arms of Jamaica
ArmigerCharles III in Right of Jamaica
Adopted1661
CrestUpon a Log fesse wise a Crocodile Proper
TorseArgent and Gules
BlazonArgent on a Cross Gules five pine-apples slipped OR
SupportersOn the dexter side a Taíno Native Woman holding in the exterior hand a Basket of Fruits and on the sinister side a Taíno Native Man supporting by the exterior hand a Bow all proper
Motto"Out of many, one people"

Official description

The National Library of Jamaica describes the coat of arms as follows:[1]

For Arms, Argent on a Cross Gules five pine-apples slipped OR: and upon a representation of Our Royal Helmet mantled OR doubled Ermine, for the Crest, On a Wreath Argent and Gules, Upon a Log fesse wise a Crocodile Proper: And for the Supporters, On the dexter side a West Indian Native Woman holding in the exterior hand a Basket of Fruits and on the sinister side a West Indian Native Man supporting by the exterior hand a Bow all proper.

Symbolism

The motto of the seal has been a matter of discussion for years since inception. The original motto, INDUS UTERQUE SERVIET UNI is the Latin translation for "The Indians twain shall serve one Lord". The motto was replaced in 1962 with the English motto "Out of Many, One People",[2] as tribute to the unity of the different cultural minorities inhabiting the nation. The United States has a similar motto, E Pluribus Unum, meaning "Out of Many, One" in Latin.

Changes in the coat of arms

The Jamaican coat of arms has seen quite a number of changes, but only three are officially recorded. These changes occurred in 1906, 1957 and 1962.

  • Arms of Jamaica from 1875 to 1906.
    Arms of Jamaica from 1875 to 1906.
  • Arms of Jamaica from 1906 to 8 April 1957.
    Arms of Jamaica from 1906 to 8 April 1957.
  • Arms of Jamaica from 8 April 1957 to 13 July 1962.
    Arms of Jamaica from 8 April 1957 to 13 July 1962.
  • Arms of Jamaica from 13 July to 6 August 1962.
    Arms of Jamaica from 13 July to 6 August 1962.

References
  1. "National Symbols". The National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  2. "This day in 1962". The Gleaner. April 4, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
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