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Coat of arms of Belize
Armiger Charles III in Right of Belize
Adopted1981 (standardised in 2019)
CrestA mahogany tree proper [1]
ShieldParty per pall inverted, 1st Argent a paddle and a squaring axe proper in saltire 2nd Or a saw and beating axe proper in saltire 3rd per fess bleu celeste and barry wavy or vert azure above the last a sailing ship proper [1]
SupportersDexter a Belizean Mestizo woodsman proper garbed in trousers argent bearing in the dexter hand a beating axe, sinister an Afro Belizean woodsman proper garbed in trousers argent bearing in the sinister hand a paddle proper [1]
CompartmentA grassy field proper [1]
MottoSUB UMBRA FLOREO
"Under the shade I flourish"
Other elementsThe whole surrounded by a wreath of 25 leaves proper [1]

The coat of arms of Belize was adopted upon independence, and the current coat of arms is only slightly different from that used when Belize was a British colony (the Union Jack has been removed, and a Mestizo woodcutter has replaced one of the supporting Afro-Belizean woodcutters). [1] [2]

The circular border of the coat is formed by 25 leaves. Within the circle is a mahogany tree, in front of which is a shield tierced per pall inverted. Within the shield are the tools of a woodcutter in the upper sections and a ship in the lower one. These are symbolic of the importance of mahogany in the 18th- and 19th-century Belizean economy. [3]

The flag of Belize features the coat of arms in its centre.

Official description

The British College of Heraldry laid forth the blazon of the coat of arms as follows: [1]

Crest – A mahogany tree proper

Compartment – A grassy field proper

Escutcheon – Party per pall inverted, 1st Argent a paddle and a squaring axe proper in saltire 2nd Or a saw and beating axe proper in saltire 3rd per fess bleu celeste and barry wavy or vert azure above the last a sailing ship proper

Supporters – Dexter a Mestizo (revised post-independence to Belizean Mestizo) woodsman proper garbed in trousers argent bearing in the dexter hand a beating axe, sinister an African (revised post-independence to Afro Belizean) woodsman proper garbed in trousers argent bearing in the sinister hand a paddle proper.

Other elements – The whole surrounded by a wreath of 25 leaves proper

Historical versions

  • Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1819–1907
    Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1819–1907
  • Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1907–1967
    Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1907–1967
  • Coat of arms of British Honduras/Belize, 1967–1981
    Coat of arms of British Honduras/Belize, 1967–1981
  • Coat of arms of Belize, 1981–2019
    Coat of arms of Belize, 1981–2019

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Belize Flag, Coat of Arms, National Anthem". Belize.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  2. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1915). The Book of Public Arms: A Complete Encyclopæeia of All Royal, Territorial, Municipal, Corporate, Official, and Impersonal Arms. London: T. C. & E. C. Jack. pp. 118–119. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ^ "The National Symbols". Government of Belize. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2013.


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