View source for Coat of arms of Benin

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{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Coat of arms of Benin
|image            = Coat of arms of Benin.svg
|image_width      = 200
|middle           = 
|middle_width     = 
|middle_caption   = 
|lesser           =Insigne_Benini.svg 
|lesser_width     = 
|lesser_caption   =Lesser version 
|image2           = 
|image2_width     = 
|image2_caption   = 
|image3           = 
|image3_width     = 
|image3_caption   = 
|armiger          = [[Benin|Republic of Benin]]
|year_adopted     = 1990 (1964)
|crest            = Two cornucopias sable, ears of corn coming therefrom;
|torse            = 
|shield           = Quarterly,1, Argent, a [[Somba people|Somba]] Castle Or, 2, Argent, a Star of Benin proper, 3, Argent, a Palm Tree vert charged with fruit gules, 4, Argent, a ship sable sailing on a sea azure with a sewn upon the line of quartering a lozenge gules
|supporters       = Two panthers or spotted
|compartment      = 
|motto            = '''Fraternité, Justice, Travail''' <br> "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = 
|use              = 
}}

'''The coat of arms''' or '''national seal of [[Benin]]''', originally introduced in 1964,<ref name="German wikipedia">''[[:de:Wappen Benins|Wappen Benins]]'' (German Wikipedia)</ref>  was readopted in 1990 after being replaced in 1975.  

At the top of the emblem is the national crest that consists of two horns with [[maize|corn]] in the ear and filled with sand.  These are reputed to stand for prosperity.  Below the crest is a shield that contains the actual coat of arms of Benin.  

The shield is broken into four quadrants.  The top left quadrant contains a castle in the style of the [[Somba people|Somba]], representative of the history of Benin.  In the top right quadrant, is the Star of Benin, the highest award of the nation.  Below this is a ship, that stands for the arrival of [[European ethnic groups|European]]s in Benin.  In the lower left quadrant is a [[palm tree]].

The shield is supported by a pair of [[Leopard (heraldry)|leopards]], the national animal of Benin.  Below the shield is the [[motto]] of Benin (Fraternity, Justice, Labour) in [[French language|French]].

==Official description==
The [[constitution of Benin]] puts for the [[blazon]] of the coat of arms as follows:<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/education/edurights/media/docs/cd9ad07158c52d423f4fb125ea5a53999323b886.pdf La Constitution de la République du Bénin]</ref>

*Quarterly, 
#In the first quarter a Somba castle or;
#In the second argent the Star of Benin proper, which is a [[Maltese cross]] azure, anglé of rays argent and in fess point sable;
#In the third quarter argent a palm tree vert charged with a fruit gules;
#In the fourth quarter argent a ship sable sailing on a sea azure with a sewn upon the line of quartering a lozenge gules
*Supporters: two panthers or spotted;
*Above the shield: two cornucopias sable, ears of corn coming therefrom;
*Motto: Fraternité - Justice - Travail in letters sable on a scroll.

==[[People's Republic of Benin]] (1975-1990)==
[[File:Emblem of Benin (1975–1990).svg|200px|thumb|right|Coat of arms of the People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990).]]
In 1975, the [[People's Republic of Benin]] (as the country was [[Geographical renaming|then known]] - see ''[[history of Benin]]'' for more details) adopted a new coat of arms which reflected the country's adherence to [[Marxism-Leninism]]. The symbolism of the flag was as follows:<ref name="German wikipedia"/><ref>[http://flagspot.net/flags/bj).html "Coat of arms of Benin"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923091214/http://flagspot.net/flags/bj).html |date=2010-09-23 }} Flags of the World</ref>

*Green symbolized the [[nature]] of the country
*The [[red star]] symbolized [[socialism]]
*The corn cobs represented agriculture and farmers
*The cog-wheel represented industry and the working class

The coat of arms also featured the initials of the country: RPB ({{langx|fr|République populaire du Bénin}}).

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Coat of arms of Béhanzin.svg|Royal coat of arms of King [[Béhanzin]] of [[Kingdom of Dahomey|Dahomey]] (c. 1890 {{ndash}} 1894)
File:Coat of arms of Dahomey (1958–1964).svg|Coat of arms of the [[Republic of Dahomey]] (1958 {{ndash}} 1964)
File:Sceau du Dahomey.svg|Seal of Dahomey (as defined by law in 1964)
</gallery>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110815145519/http://www.national-symbol.com/B/Benin/Benin-national-symbol.htm  Coat of arms of Benin In The World All Countries Coat of arms]

{{Coat of arms of Africa}}

[[Category:National symbols of Benin]]
[[Category:National coats of arms|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with cornucopia|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with leopards|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with buildings|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with trees|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with crosses|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with ships|Benin]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with maize|Benin]]

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