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Belize - Coat of Arms

image contributed by Fred Drews, 17 July 2007

Coat of Arms

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Coat of Arms

The current CoA was adopted at independence and differs only in minor details from the colonial one (e.g. the UJ was eliminated from the canton of the shield). Differences in the shape of the scroll etc. are probably heraldic license and not new CoAs. The supporters used to be both Black. The dexter one (viewer's left) is now White/Hispanic -- I suppose that was a change at independence.
T.F. Mills , 27 March 1999

From the Belize Government Website:
"The Coat of Arms - The shield of the Coat of Arms is divided into three sections by a vertical line and an inverted V. The base section represents a ship in full sail on waves of the sea. The two upper sections show tools of the timber industry in Belize: a paddle and a squaring axe in the right section and a saw and a beating axe in the left section.
Supporting the shield are two woodcutters, the one on the right holding a beating axe over his shoulder in his right hand, and the one on the left holding a paddle over his shoulder in his left hand.
Above the shield rises a mahogany tree. Below the shield is the motto scroll. A wreath of leaves encircles the Coat of Arms.
The Coat of Arms embodies an important aspect of the history of Belize, as the mahogany industry formed the basis of our economy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
NATIONAL MOTTO: "Sub Umbra Florero" - These latin words mean, "Under the shade I flourish."
National Flower: The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum).
National Tree: The Mahogany Tree (Swietenia Macrophilla) - The mahogany tree forms part of Belize's Coat of Arms. The motto "Sub Umbra Florero" means: Under the shade (of the mahogany tree) I flourish.
National Bird: The Keel Billed Toucan (Ramphastos Solfurantus).
National Animal: The Tapir or Mountain Cow (Tapirello Bairdii)."
Jarig Bakker , 16 November 1999

Coat of Arms adopted on 21 September 1981.
Nozomi Kariyasu , 20 March 2000