Coat of arms of El Salvador

Coat of arms of El Salvador
Versions
Seal of the President
Armiger	Republic of El Salvador
Adopted	15 September 1912
Motto	Dios, Unión, Libertad "God, Union, Liberty"

The coat of arms of El Salvador has been in use in its current form since 15 September 1912.

Features

The five rowed volcanos in the coat of arms were inspired by the Cordillera de Apaneca volcanic range

• The coat of arms has the words (REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL) in a bold and Heavy, Sans Serif Boris Black Bloxx typeface, in a golden amber color

• The nacional motto (DIOS UNIÓN LIBERTAD) in bold version of Trajan (typeface) Roman type Roman square capitals. The letter are colored amber gold on the civil flag, and black in the coat of arms

• The date (15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821) in bold version of Trajan (typeface) Roman type Roman square capitals

The iconic and imposing coat of arms of El Salvador has Medieval Gothic and Greco-Roman influences, as well as masonic, geographical, biblical, and Native American Indigenous symbolic representations, all of which come together in a distinctive, stylized shield design. Its center consists of a bold golden amber triangle outline (symbolizing the three branches of the country's government - Executive, Legislative and Judiciary), in which a row of five coned peaked volcanoes "Soberbios Volcanes", covered in lush and healthy vegetation of various shades of green color, depicting a fertile tropical forests, rise out of the Turquoise (color) Pacific Ocean swells, symbolizing the fellowship of the five original isthmian member states of the United Provinces of Central America. The volcanoes are illuminated yellow on their right sides by sunshine. Above the volcanoes is a crimson red Phrygian cap on a staff before an amber sun surrounded by rays of Glory with a vortex of shooting spiraling swirling rays, and a volcanic "red sky at morning" under the sun in the horizon. The date of the Independence Day of El Salvador, 15 September 1821, is written in black letters around the sun. On the top, there is a rainbow arch, a biblical symbol of peace.

Behind the coat of arms there are five cobalt blue and white striped flags representing the flags of the Federal Republic of Central America; one of those flags is risen straight up behind and over the triangle, hanging loosely around its spear, and the other four flags are risen half way and stretch out like wings from behind the triangle's sides, two on each side, one over another. The flags hang loosely on their sides, creating almost a horn-like effect with their ends tied up behind the triangle's bottom.

All of the five flags are each held up and raised with Native American Indigenous wooden war spears, with obsidian Clovis projectile points, and tied with feathers, symbolizing El Salvador's American Indigenous ancestry and heritage. The spears represent the spirit and heroism of the Lenca and Pipil warriors, who defeated the first attempted Spanish conquest of Cuzcatlan. Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado wrote that he was awestruck and spooked in great fear when he saw the massive numbers of American Indigenous warriors with large spears and bows as their weaponry standing their ground in their battle against the invading Spaniards.

Under the triangle, there is a golden amber scroll which states the national motto of El Salvador: Dios, Unión, Libertad (Spanish: "God, Union, Liberty") in boldface black capital letters.

The triangle, flags, and scroll are surrounded by a green laurel wreath in various shades of Laurus nobilis green color tied together with a cobalt blue and white striped ribbon representing the national flag, which symbolizes unity. The laurel wreath is divided into 14 different parts, which symbolize the 14 Departments, the Salvadoran subnational administrative units. All this is surrounded by golden amber letters, which form the Spanish words REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL (English: Republic of El Salvador in Central America) in boldface capital letters. For special occasions, the whole entire coat of arms of El Salvador is stylized bathed in amber gold or silver color. The coat of arms of El Salvador is recognizable in silhouette.

Historical coat of arms

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  The United Provinces of Central America (1823-1825)
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  Federal Republic of Central America (1825-1841)
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  National Representation of Central America (1851-1853)
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  Greater Republic of Central America (1895-1898)
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  El Salvador (1877-1912)
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  El Salvador (1912–Present)

Salvadoran Coat of Arms displays

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  Flag of El Salvador displayed alongside former Salvadoran president Francisco Flores Pérez, 2001
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  Flag of El Salvador (center) displayed at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
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  Flag of El Salvador displayed on the legislative Palace Salon Azul, San Salvador
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  The Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed at the site from which, on the morning of November 5, 1811, the first cry for the independence of Central America was launched
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  The Coat of Arms of El Salvador in the Barcelona consulate
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  The Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed in The Torch of Friendship monument in Downtown Miami, Florida
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on the El Zapote Military Museum, San Salvador
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  The coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on Virgin Our Lady of Peace in Nazaret, Israel
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  The Coat of Arms of El Salvador displayed on Virgin Our Lady of Peace in the Cathedral Basilica of Queen of Peace, San Miguel
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1925 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1925 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on a 1971 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1971 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1971 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on a 1971 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1971 coin
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1976 banknote
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1999 banknote
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1999 banknote
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1999 banknote
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  Coat of arms of El Salvador display on a 1999 banknote