Last modified: 2003-08-16 by dov gutterman
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by Jaume Ollé and Antonio Martins, 5 November
2001
(For the former 5-stars version produced by Fred Drews, click
here)
See also:
Costa Rica CoA has REPUBLICA DE COSTA RICA in a scroll in
chief of the shield and AMERICA CENTRAL in a circular scroll
above the shield.
Ivan Sache , 11 September 1999
From <supersite.incostarica.com>:
"National Seal - It was created in 1848, under the
presidency of Jose Maria Castro Madriz. The original seal went
through two important changes. In 1906, war symbols were removed
as a response to Costa Rican's tradition for peace. Another
change occurred in 1964, when two more stars were added as to
represent the newly incorporated provinces. Today, the national
seal shows seven stars, one for each province, three volcanoes
representing the country's three mountain ranges, and two
merchant ships. There is a rising sun at the horizon between the
blue sky and the blue ocean."
Dov Gutterman, 17 November 1998
Rabbow, in DTV-Lexicon politischer Symbole, 1970, states:
'Till 23 Oct 1964 there were five stars, reminding of the five
Central American countries. The number changed to seven to
represent the seven provinces of Costa Rica.'
In fact the 5 stars stood for the five member-states of the
United States of Central America, after Honduras withdrew from it
in 1838. The union was dissolved in 1839, but the union-flag and
CoA still plays an important role in these countries. So the 5
stars were for: Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador and
Guatemala.
Source: Kannik, Vlaggen, Standaarden en Wapens, c. 1959
Jarig Bakker, 20 March 2001
When president Jose Maria Castro Madriz adopted the CoA of
Costa Rica (29, September, 1848), there were 5 provinces. Other
two were added in the end of XIX c. The state of Panama was
created in 1903, but the costa-rican CoA created in 1848. I think
5 stars means - 5 provinces of 1848 and 5 countries: Costa Rica,
HONDURAS, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Victor Lomantsov, 20 March 2001
Panama was never part of Central America. The five stars stood
for the members of the United Provinces of Central America, which
were Costa Rica, (El)Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua.
Panama was a part of Columbia.
One of many sources: Kannik, Das farbige Flaggenlexikon, 1958
(German edition of Alverdens Flag i Fraver, 1956).
Ralf Stelter, 21 March 2001
According to what I read, the symbolism of the five stars was
forgotten for many years. Puntarenas and Limon were created
provinces in 7 july 1909 and before they were not provinces but
regions (level a bit lower that province). In 1909 the meaning of
stars was fully forgotten and when arms were slighty modifies in
13 june 1934, the five stars remained unchanged. only in 1964 two
stars were added.
Jaume Olle, 22 March 2001
At Album 2000 [pay00]: Coat of
Arms - Figure provides detail from the state flag - the coat of
arms together with the white oval in background. There are some
differencies from the image posted by Jaume, but these are rather
minor, I guess.
Zeljko Heimer, 1 june 2001
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