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image by Raul Orta, 18 August 2003
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The wheatsheaf in the first quarter (dexter chief) has 20 ears
of wheat standing for the 20 states who made up Venezuela when
the Coat of Arms was designed. The scroll joining the olive and
palm branches has the following texts:
19 de Abril de 1.810 20 de Febrero de 1.959
Independencia Federacion
Republica de Venezuela
Source: <homes.acmecity.com>
Dov Gutterman (translated by Santiago Dotor),
15 June 1999
The coat of arms is strictly regulated. It can be used only by
the State authorities on their stationery. As I know it (this is
an empirical account, I have not checked the law yet), the
President, the Presidents ofthe Parliamentary Chambers and Chief
Justice, use a multicolor coat of arms (engraved) on theirs.
Ministers, Comptroller's Officer, State Defensor,General
Attorney, Commanders of the Armed Forces (among others) use a
golden (engraved) coat of arms on their stationery; and MP's,
Ministerial directors, Heads of Departments, Presidentially
Appointed Heads of Comissions and medium army officers use a
white (engraved) coat of arms.Other state officers use a printed
white coat of arms with a black contourtraced around its
components, in flat paper. Civil Society cannot use the Coat of
Arms whasoever (although it is printed on mugs, t-shirts,
posters, caps,stickers and so on...). Oddly enough, I have seen a
Venezuelan Coat of Arms with a Princely Crown replacing the two
Cornucopias with flowers. Never in Venezuela's history we have
been a monarchy or a principate. The Coat of Arms with the crown
I saw was on, get this, a souvenir ashtray !!!
Guillermo Aveledo , 24 September 1999
The current Law for the National Flag, Coat of Armas and
Anthem (1954; when Venezuela changed back its name form the
United States of Venezuela, to the Republic of Venezuela) states
(after a loose translation and some of my pointers):
"Art. 9.- The Coat of Arms of the Republic will carry on its
field the colours of the national flag on its three cantons: The
upper right canton will be red and it will contain the figure of
a bundle of weath branches, as a symbol of the union of the
Republic's States and of the wealth of the nation. The upper left
canton will be yellow and, as a triumphant emblem, it will bear
weapons [three spears and two swords] and two national flags,
tightened by a lauril crown. The third, lower canton will be blue
(and with a green bottom) and it will hold the figure of a brave
and untamed horse, white, with its head turned to the right, as
an emblem for Independence and Liberty.
The Coat of Arms will have as headpiece, as symbols of abundance,
two down-facing cornucopias intercrossed around the middle, both
filled with abundant tropical fruits. On its sides, the Coat of
Arms will bear an olive branch (right side; it has been suggested
lately to change this for a coffe tree branch) and a palm tree
branch (left side) tied at the bottom side of the shield by a
tricolour ribbon (yellow, blue and red). Inside the blue stripe
of the ribbon the following captions will read: to the right,
"19 DE ABRIL DE 1810","INDEPENDENCIA"; to the
left "20 de febrero de 1859", "FEDERATION",
and to its centre, "REPUBLICA DE VENEZUELA"."
A NOTE: As you can see, the Venezuelan Coat of Arms bears the
name of "República de Venezuela" as our country has
its current official denomination standing. After the vote of the
referendum on Dec 15 we will see if the proposed name change for
the country will get to our Coat of Arms (expectedly, in the case
of a victory for the YES vote, we will change it; the proposed
name is "República Bolivariana de Venezuela" after one
of our founding fathers, Simon Bolivar). As a precedent, when we
had our last name change (due to the deep transformation of the
political structure of the State, and not because of some
historical myth), back in 1953 (near the drafting of the law
previously quoted), the Coat of Arms which were bearers of the
previous name (United States of Venezuela) would be equally valid
in legal terms until the printed supplies of them were to run
out. We asume the same would happen now.
Guillermo Aveledo , 24 November 1999
Here ia a new version of the
Venezuelan CoA (right colours)
Guillermo Aveledo , 13 January 2000
Some time ago we discussed the possibility of a new flag of
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the eigth star, see Proposal for a New Flag for Venezuela).
However, it is possible that a silent change of the Coat of Arms
and hence of the flag has happened. According to last issue of
Vexilologie, the Coat of Arms with the new name of state
("Rep'ublica Bolivariana de Venezuela") and with a
higher number of golden ears (23? - compatible with the new
number of states, higher than traditional 20) has been published,
although there is no new Coat of Arms/flag law.
Jan Zrzavy, 5 Febuary 2002
As you know, Venezuela has a new official name since 1999 when
the current Constitution was approved. But, the effective
"Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno Nacionales" (Law of
National Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem) dates from 1954. The
Constitution establishes in its Article 8 that the National Flag
with the colors yellow, blue and red; the National Anthem
"Glory to the Brave People" and the Coat of Arms of the
Republic are the Symbols of the Homeland. The Law will regulate
its characteristics, meanings and uses. Because the
Constitution subadds to the respective Law its characteristics,
meanings and uses, our National Symbols cannot be modified but by
another Law different of the one from 1954. Therefore and
officially, the Venezuelan Flag maintains its seven stars and the
National Coat of Arms, its twenty ears and the inscription
"Republica de Venezuela" (Republic of Venezuela).
Certainly, some particulars have tried to change by their own
risk some reproductions and representations of Our National Flag
and Coat of Arms; but, as you can infer, are considered arbitrary
and unofficial modifications without any legal character.
Raul Jesus Orta Pardo, 6 Febuary 2002
The following is from the website of the Embassy of Venezuela:
1936 - It is decided that the bands of colour be the same width,
and the Coat of Arms be placed on the upper left hand corner. The
Coat of Arms is partitioned into three sections: yellow, blue,
and red. The red section shows a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing the
union of the Venezuelan States. The yellow section has two
crossed swords and two flags entwined by a laurel wreath, as an
emblem of victory; the third section occupying the entire lower
half of the emblem, contains an indomitable white horse, the
symbol of freedom and independence. The cornucopias and a ribbon
with the colours of the flag uniting the laurel and olive
branches bears the following inscription: "República de
Venezuela; Independencia, 19 de abril de 1810; Federación, 20 de
febrero de 1859."
Source: <www.embavenez-us.org>
German Hernandez, 27 January 2003
With regards to the Coat of Arms of the Republic it's possible
to mention that the original one of its present version appeared
on 1836. The charges of its field has mantained inalterable but
not thus its external ornaments which has changed mainly obeying
the points of view of the prevailing political tendencies in a
determinate historic moment. The present version of the Coat of
Arms of Venezuela arose in 1930 and showed in the pennant
under the base the motto "E.E.U.U. DE VENEZUELA"
(United States of Venezuela) official name that then received my
country. On 1954 it was replaced by "REPÚBLICA DE
VENEZUELA" (Republic of Venezuela) and continue so at the
present time then even the country official name changed,
Article 8 of the Constitution indicates: "The Law will
regulate the characteristics, meaning and uses" of the
National Symbols: the effective Law is the one of 1954 and there
the Flag and the National Coat of Arms are described as we have
reviewed previously. The inscriptions don't have accents.
Raul Jesus Orta Pardo, 18 August 2003
p06a.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 18 August 2003
Coat of Arms according to Album 2000 Corr 3 [pay03].
Album 95 [pay] show Coat of arms
for National Flag and War Ensign and President of the Republic
folag, giving the transliteration in clear of the text in
ribbons: "19 DE ABRIL DE 1810/20 DE FEBRERO 1859 /
INDEPENDENCIA/FEDERACION/REPUBLICA DE VENEZUELA" .
Željko Heimer, 18 and 28 August 2003
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