View source for Coat of arms of the Bahamas

{{Short description|National coat of arms}}
{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Coat of arms of the Bahamas
|image            = Coat of arms of the Bahamas.svg
|image_width      = 250
|middle           = 
|middle_width     = 
|middle_caption   = 
|lesser           = 
|lesser_width     = 
|lesser_caption   = 
|armiger          = [[Commonwealth of The Bahamas]]
|year_adopted     = 7 December 1971
|crest            = Upon a representation of Our Royal Helmet mantled Azure doubled Argent on a Wreath Or and Azure. A Conch Shell proper in front of a Panache of Palm Fronds proper.<ref name=govt>{{cite web|url=http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1973/1973-0020/FlagsandCoatofArmsRegulationAct_1.pdf|title=Flags and Coat of Arms (Regulation)|work=Bahamas Legislation ch. 32|access-date=20 April 2018|archive-date=27 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227154105/http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1973/1973-0020/FlagsandCoatofArmsRegulationAct_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|torse            = Orange and Azure
|shield           = Upon a representation of the Santa Maria on a base barry wavy of four Azure and Argent on a Chief Azure demi-sun Or.
|supporters       = On the dexter side a Marlin proper and on the sinister side a Flamingo proper
|compartment      = Per pale Waves of the Sea and Swampland proper.
|motto            = Forward, Upward, Onward Together
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = 
|use              = 
}}

[[File:COA of Bahamas proposal.svg|thumb|[[Emblem]] of the Bahamas, 1964.

Motto: ''Expulsis Piratis – Restituta Commercia'' ([[Republic of Pirates|Pirates Expelled]] – Commerce Restored)]]

The '''coat of arms of the Bahamas''' contains a shield with the national symbols as its focal point.

==Official description==
The [[blazon]] of the coat of arms is described in Bahamas law:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1973/1973-0020/FlagsandCoatofArmsRegulationAct_1.pdf |title=FLAGS AND COAT OF ARMS (REGULATION) |access-date=2018-04-20 |archive-date=2021-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227154105/http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1973/1973-0020/FlagsandCoatofArmsRegulationAct_1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Arms:''' Upon a representation of the Santa María on a base barry wavy of four Azure and Argent on a Chief Azure demisun Or.

'''Crest:''' Upon a representation of Our Royal Helmet mantled Azure doubled Argent on a Wreath Or and Azure. A Conch Shell proper in front of a Panache of Palm Fronds proper.

'''Supporters:''' On the dexter side a Marlin proper and on the sinister side a Flamingo proper; and upon a Compartment per pale Waves of the Sea and Swampland proper.

'''Motto:''' “Forward, Upward, Onward Together”.
==Explanation==
The [[escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] (shield) is supported by a [[marlin]] and [[flamingo]]. The [[crest (heraldry)|crest]] on top of the helm (helmet) is a conch shell, which represents the varied marine life of the island chain.  Below the helm is the escutcheon itself, whose main [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a ship, reputed to represent the ''[[Santa María (ship)|Santa María]]'' of [[Christopher Columbus]].  It is sailing beneath a sun in the [[chief (heraldry)|chief]].  The animals supporting the shield are the national animals, and the national [[motto]] is found at the bottom.  The flamingo is located upon land, and the marlin upon sea, indicating the geography of the islands.  

The vibrant [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]]s of the coat of arms are also intended to point to a bright future for the islands.  They are also reputed to have been maintained for their attractiveness to tourists.

The coat of arms was approved by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] on 7 December 1971. It was designed by Bahamian artist and clergyman Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Jr., who is also a member of the [[Order of the British Empire]].

==History==

{| width="60%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
|align="center" colspan=3 style="background-color:#369; color:white;" |'''Crown Colony of the Bahamas'''
|-
!bgcolor = "#DCDCDC" width = "20%"|<small>Emblem</small>
!bgcolor = "#DCDCDC" width = "20%"|<small>Period of use</small>
!bgcolor = "#DCDCDC" width = "60%"|<small>Notes</small>
|-

|align="center"|[[File:Emblem of the Bahamas (1869-1904; 1953-1964).svg|120px]]

|align="center"|1869–1904; 1953-1964

||<small>Colonial badge of [[the Bahamas]]. Depicting a British ship chasing two pirate ships out at the high seas and the motto "''Expulsis piratis restituta commercia''" (Pirates expelled, commerce restored)</small>

|-
|align="center"|[[File:Emblem of the Bahamas (1904-1953).svg|120px]]

|align="center"|1904–1953

||<small>The coat of arms remained the same but the crown was changed to a [[Tudor Crown]].</small>

|-
|align="center"|[[File:Emblem of the Bahamas (1964-1973).svg|120px]]

|align="center"|1964–1973

||<small>On 1964, the coat of arms was changed to a higher detailed version with the "Bahamas" text colour changing to blue and a [[Tudor rose]] between the motto.</small>
|-
|}

==Island arms==
In addition to the National Coat of Arms, there are a total of eighteen regional island shields (including two unofficial devices). These were granted upon Independence in 1973, to be displayed at the Independence day celebration to reflect each island's individual cultural heritage.

{| class=toccolours style="width: 50%; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"
| colspan="9" style="background-color: | {{center|'''Island arms of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas'''}}
|- align="center"
|
| 
| 
| 
|- align="center"
| [[Acklins]]
| [[Abaco Islands|Abaco]]
| [[Andros, Bahamas|Andros]]
| [[Berry Islands]]
|- align="center"
| 
| 
|
| 
|- align="center"
| [[Bimini]]
| [[Cat Island, Bahamas|Cat Island]]
| [[Crooked Island, Bahamas|Crooked Island]]
| [[Eleuthera]]
|- align="center"
| 
| 
| 
| 
|- align="center"
| [[Grand Bahama]]
| [[Inagua]]
| [[Long Island, Bahamas|Long Island]]
| [[Mayaguana]]
|- align="center"
| 
| 
| 
| 
|- align="center"
| [[New Providence]]
| [[Ragged Island, Bahamas|Ragged Island]]
| [[Rum Cay]]
| [[San Salvador Island|San Salvador]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061125032853/http://www.national-symbol.com/B/Bahamas/Bahamas-national-symbol.htm  Coat of arms of Bahamas In The World All Countries Coat of arms]

{{Coat of arms of North America}}
{{The Bahamas topics}}

[[Category:National coats of arms|Bahamas]]
[[Category:National symbols of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with seashells|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with sunrays|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with suns|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with birds|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with fish|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with ships|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with flags|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Society of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:National emblems with birds|Bahamas]]

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