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| Coat of arms of The Gambia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Republic of The Gambia |
| Crest | Issuant from a Mount Vert, an Oil Palm Nut Tree fructed proper |
| Torse | Or and Azure |
| Shield | Azure, a Locar axe and a Mandinka Hoe in saltire Or, a Bordure parted per bordure Vert and Argent |
| Supporters | on either side a Lion guardant proper, the dexter supporting a Locar Axe and the sinister a Mandinka Hoe, both Or |
| Compartment | None |
| Motto | Progress, Peace, Prosperity |
| Earlier version(s) | .svg) Gambia Colony and Protectorate |
| Use | 1889-1965 |
Thecoat of arms ofThe Gambia has been in use since 18 November 1964. It depicts twolions holding anaxe andhoe, supporting ashield that depicts another pair of hoe and axe, crossed. Atop the shield is set theheraldic helmet and anoil palm as a crest. At the bottom is the nationalmotto: Progress – Peace – Prosperity. The Gambian coat of arms also appeared in the fly of the Gambianair force ensign.
The two lions represent the colonial history of The Gambia as part of theBritish Empire. The crossed axe and hoe represent the importance ofagriculture to The Gambia. They are also considered to represent the two major ethnic groups of The Gambia: theMandinka and theFulani. The crest, a palm tree, is also a vital national tree.[1]
The design was created by Nicholas Potin, a government employee with the Department of Surveys, who won a national competition to design it.[2]
.svg)
The Coat of arms ofThe Gambia Armed Forces service branches had variations:
