The Tribune

A COAT of arms is a design or symbol on a shield, which is unique to an individual person, family, corporation, or state.

The design’s elements will include a crest, supporters (figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up), an escutcheon (shield), a compartment (a design placed under the shield).

The coat of arms will have a formal description called a blazon, expressed in a jargon that allows for consistency in heraldic depictions.

The Coat of Arms of the Bahamas contains a shield with the national symbols as its focal point. It was designed by Rev Dr Hervis L Bain, Jr, and was adopted on December 7, 1971.

In summary, its crest depicts a conch shell surrounded by five palm fronds vert. The torse, a twisted roll of fabric wound around the top of the helm and crest to hold the mantle in place, is blue and gold. Its supporters are a marlin and a flamingo.

The motto is Forward, Upward, Onward, Together.

The escutcheon is supported by a marlin and flamingo. The 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 is a ship, reputed to represent the Santa Mar�a of Christopher Columbus. It is sailing beneath a sun. The animals supporting the shield are the national animals, and the national motto is found at the bottom. The flamingo is located on land, and the marlin on sea.

This is its blazon: Divided, in chief azure a rising sun irradiated or, in base, argent a Columbus ship proper surmounts barry nebuly of two azure;

Crest: atop a Sovereign’s helm or a conch shell proper surrounded by five palm fronds vert on a wreath of the chief’s colours, from which issues mantling azure lined argent;

Compartment: divided, dexter the sea argent and azure, sinister, the earth vert, overall the motto: Forward, upward, onward together on a band or lined azure;

Supporters: a blue marlin dexter, a flamingo sinister both proper.