Coat of arms of the Bahamas
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of the Bahamas contains a shield with the national symbols as its focal point, the shield is supported by a marlin
and flamingo
.
On top the shield is a conch shell, that represents the varied marine life of the island chain. This rests upon a helmet. Below this is the actual shield, the main symbol of which is a ship, reported to represent the Santa María
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 upon land, and the marlin upon sea, indicating the geography of the islands.
The vibrant colours of the coat of arms are also intended to point to a bright future for the islands. They are also reputed to have been maintained due to their attractiveness to tourists.
The Coat of Arms was approved by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on 7th December , 1971 for use by the Bahamian People and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It was designed by Bahamian artist and clergyman, Rev. Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Jr., who is also a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Marlin
Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
and flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
.
On top the shield is a conch shell, that represents the varied marine life of the island chain. This rests upon a helmet. Below this is the actual shield, the main symbol of which is a ship, reported to represent the Santa María
Santa María (ship)
La Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción , was the largest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first voyage. Her master and owner was Juan de la Cosa.-History:...
of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
. It is sailing beneath a sun. The animals supporting the shield are the national animals, and the national motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is found at the bottom. The flamingo is located upon land, and the marlin upon sea, indicating the geography of the islands.
The vibrant colours of the coat of arms are also intended to point to a bright future for the islands. They are also reputed to have been maintained due to their attractiveness to tourists.
The Coat of Arms was approved by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on 7th December , 1971 for use by the Bahamian People and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It was designed by Bahamian artist and clergyman, Rev. Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Jr., who is also a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Island Crests
In addition to the National Coat of Arms, there are a total of eighteen regional Island Crest (including two unofficial crests). These crests were granted upon Independence in 1973, to be displayed at the Independence day celebration to reflect each islands individual cultural heritage.| Acklins Acklins Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and... |
Abaco Abaco Islands The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand... |
Andros Andros, Bahamas Andros Island is an archipelago within the archipelago-nation of the Bahamas, the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands. Geo-politically considered a single island, Andros has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined... |
Berry Islands Berry Islands The Berry Islands are a chain of islands and a district of the Bahamas, covering about thirty square miles of the north western part of the Out Islands... |
| Bimini Bimini Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles west-northwest of Nassau... |
Cat Island | Crooked Island | Eleuthera Eleuthera Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000... |
| Grand Bahama Grand Bahama Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays... |
Inagua Inagua Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point... |
Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... |
Mayaguana Mayaguana Mayaguana is the most easterly island and district of the Bahamas. It is one of only a few Bahamian islands which retain their Lucayan names. The population of Mayaguana in the 2000 census was 259, amounting to an estimate 312 in 2010... |
| New Providence New Providence New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed... |
Ragged island | Rum Cay Rum Cay Rum Cay is an island and district of the Bahamas. Lat.: N23 42' 30" - Long.: W 74 50' 00" - Size: 30 Sq. mlsRum Cay is 20 miles southwest of San Salvador Island, has many rolling hills that rises to about 120 feet . Christopher Columbus called it Santa Maria de la Concepción. The island is... |
San Salvador San Salvador Island San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited... |