Coat of arms of Belize

The coat of arms of Belize was adopted upon independence in 1981. It differs only slightly different from the arms used when Belize was a British colony (the Union Jack has been removed, and a Mestizo has replaced one of the Afro-Belizean woodcutters supporting the shield).<ref name="belize.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Fox-Davies">Template:Cite book</ref>

The wreath around the arms is formed of 50 leaves, symbolising the year 1950, "when Belizeans began the struggle for independence".<ref name="belize.com"/> Within the wreath is a mahogany tree, in front of which is a shield split per chevron and per pale. The upper sections of the shield show the tools of a woodcutter, while the lower section shows a ship under sail. These are symbolic of the importance of mahogany in the 18th- and 19th-century Belizean economy.<ref name=gov>Template:Cite web</ref> The motto is Sub umbra floreo ("Under the shade I flourish"), a reference to the country's forests and to its establishment as a colony under British protection.<ref name="belize.com"/>

The flag of Belize features the coat of arms in its centre.

Historical versions

• 
  Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1819–1907
• 
  Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1907–1967
• 
  Coat of arms of British Honduras/Belize, 1967–1981
• 
  Coat of arms of Belize (1981-2019)

References

Template:Belize-stub