 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Coat of arms of Saint Helena" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Coat of arms of Saint Helena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adopted | 1984 |
| Crest | In a naval crown Azure, a demi-figure representing St Helena, from her brow a veil Or, vested Argent, her mantle Azure, holding in the dexter hand a lily and supporting with the other in the crook of her arm a cross raguly proper.[1] |
| Shield | Azure, in base waves of the sea proper, thereon an Indiaman rigged Sable, masts and sails furled Or, and flying at the stern the George, heading towards on the dexter side, rising from the sea, two cliffs proper; on a chief Or, a wirebird, also proper.[1] |
| Motto | "Loyal and unshakable" |
Thecoat of arms ofSaint Helena, part of the British Overseas Territory ofSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, was authorised on 30 January 1984.
The arms feature a shield, with the top third showing thenational bird, theSaint 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 theflag of England flying from the ship (when the shield was first introduced in 1874 the flag was aWhite Ensign[2]).
The motto isLoyal and unshakable. The full coat of arms features, above the shield, a woman holding a cross and a flower. This representsHelena 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 theTrue Cross (cross upon whichJesus was crucified).[2]
The shield of the arms features on theflag of Saint Helena and theGovernor's flag. Thelocal two pound coin has the full coat of arms on its reverse.
The arms were also used byAscension Island andTristan da Cunha when they were dependencies of Saint Helena before 2009. Tristan da Cunha was granted itsown arms in 2002 and Ascension Island was granted itsown arms in 2012.