Coat of arms of Malta

The coat of arms of Malta is the national coat of arms of the country of Malta.

Coat of arms of Malta
Versions
The banner of arms, which serves as national flag
ArmigerRepublic of Malta
Adopted28 October 1988
CrestA mural crown with a sally port and five vedettes.
BlazonFlag of Malta: Per pale argent and gules, a representation of George Cross argent fimbriated gules in Dexter Chief
SupportersDexter, An olive branch; sinister, a palm branch in vert all in their proper colours, tied at base with a ribbon argent, backed gules and upon which is written in capital letters sable the name of the country in the Maltese language.
MottoRepubblika ta' Malta

The present coat of arms is described by the Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act of 1988 as a shield showing an heraldic representation of the national flag of Malta; above the shield a mural crown in gold with a sally port and five turrets representing the fortifications of Malta and denoting a city-state; and around the shield a wreath of two branches: the dexter of olive, the sinister of palm, symbols of peace and traditionally associated with Malta, all in their proper colours, tied at base with a white ribbon, backed red and upon which are written the words Repubblika ta' Malta (“Republic of Malta” in Maltese) in capital letters in black.[1]

Presidential Standard of Malta

The national coat of arms also appears on the Presidential Standard of Malta.

The various coats of arms appear on passports, excise stamps, official documents and various other uses. Many Maltese coins feature a coat of arms, most notably the second series of the Maltese lira, some Maltese euro coins, and many gold or silver commemorative coins (either denominated in the Maltese lira or in Euro). Coats of arms were featured various times on Maltese postage stamps as well.

Coats of arms between 1800 and 1964

Malta was a British protectorate from 1800 to 1813 and a colony from 1813 to 1964. The coat of arms used in Malta was the arms of Great Britain:

  • 1800–1801
    1800–1801
  • 1801–1816
    1801–1816
  • 1816–1837
    1816–1837
  • 1901–1952
    1901–1952
  • 1952–1964
    1952–1964

However, Malta had three colonial badges between 1875 and 1964. The first (1875 – c. 1898) showed a white Maltese cross on a white and red panel, the second (c. 1898 – 1943) showed a white and red shield (like the arms of Mdina), and the third (1943–1964) was like the 1898 arms, but with a George Cross on a blue canton on the white half. All three badges were featured on the Maltese state ensigns and the Governor's flag:

  • 1875 – c. 1898
    1875 – c. 1898
  • c. 1898 – 1943
    c. 1898 – 1943
  • 1943–1964
    1943–1964

Coat of arms between 1964 and 1975
Coat of arms of Malta from 1964 to 1975
Coat of arms of the Governor-General of Malta

This coat of arms was adopted upon independence on 21 September 1964. It depicts two dolphins which support a depiction of the Maltese flag, one with palm branch and the other with an olive twig representing victory and peace respectively. Above is a mural crown shaped like a fort with five octagonal turrets surmounts a helmet, with red and white ribbons. Below are blue waves representing the surrounding Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese eight-pointed Cross representing the connection with the Order of St. John as well as courage and determination. The ribbon under the shield has the motto Virtute et Constantia (by Valour and Firmness). Nowadays, this motto is used by the National Order of Merit.

A version with a statant guardant lion on the St Edward's Crown instead of the mural crown was also used, and this served as the coat of arms of the Governor-General of Malta.[2]

Emblem between 1975 and 1988
Emblem of Malta from 1975 to 1988

This emblem was adopted on the 11 July 1975, seven months after Malta became a republic. It showed a coastal scene with the rising sun, a traditional Maltese boat, a shovel and a pitchfork, and an Opuntia. All of these symbols are somewhat connected to Malta. Underneath the image the then-new name of the state Repubblika ta' Malta (Republic of Malta) was written.

The Maltese Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff, had wanted to change the 1964 coat of arms since he mistook the mural crown as representing royalty and therefore had no place on republican Malta's coat of arms.[2] Mintoff chose a class of art students taught by Esprit Barthet to create a design to be used on the covers of passports, and a design by Edward Abela was chosen. A final design was agreed upon and the new passports were printed and the design was officially adopted as the emblem of Malta.[2]

The emblem was controversial since it was not heraldic, and it was replaced by the current coat of arms soon after the Nationalists won the 1987 election. It was proposed that the 1964 coat of arms be readopted, but eventually a simplified version of it was chosen. The new coat of arms was designed by Adrian Strickland, who prepared preliminary sketches, and Robert Calì, who finished the design.[2]

See also
The George Cross awarded to Malta (National War Museum, Malta)

References
  1. "Flags, Symbols and their uses". Government of Malta. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. Bonello, Giovanni (8 May 2011). "Malta's three national emblems since independence – what's behind them?". Times of Malta. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
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