Coat of arms of Samoa

The coat of arms of Samoa was adopted in its present form with independence in 1962.

Description

The shield shows in dark blue the silver constellation of the Southern Cross, in chief is on a silver background against green and white waves and a silver sky a naturally represented coconut tree with golden nuts.

The shield has a dark blue - white board. It rests on two connected by radial lines red concentric circles to entwine the two green olive branches.

There is a dark blue, red - rimmed white Latin cross with red rays over the sign.

Below is wearing a white banner the state motto in Samoan language:

Symbolism

The Southern Cross is coat of arms and flag symbol in many areas of the southern hemisphere and was taken here from the Samoan flag.

Coconut palm and sea indicate the natural location of the islands in the Pacific. The cross represents the Christian tradition of the country.

The circles and lines represent latitude and longitude and come like the olive branches of the flag of the United Nations, which in 1946 were managed as a trust territory of New Zealand Samoa until independence. They were also present in the coat of arms established in 1951.

History

The crest has evolved from older symbols. A first coat of arms was introduced in 1914 by the German colonial power. It was shown in red three silver palm trees over blue and white wavy lines, in chief as in the coats of arms of all German colonies the black Prussian eagle in silver.

This coat of arms was only very briefly in use, because New Zealand troops took a few months after the introduction of Samoa. Under New Zealand League of Nations mandate a plaque was introduced in 1920, which also has three palm trees - in natural colors - showed.

In 1951, the forerunner of today's coat of arms was introduced which showed some other colors and above the shield instead of the cross a rising golden sun. These half sun was then replaced by the cross.