Coat of arms of Belize

Coat of arms of Belize
Armiger	Belize
Adopted	1981

The coat of arms of Belize was adopted upon independence in 1981. It differs only slightly different from the arms used when Belize was a British colony (the Union Jack has been removed, and a Mestizo has replaced one of the Afro-Belizean woodcutters supporting the shield). ^{[1] [2]}

The wreath around the arms is formed of 50 leaves, symbolizing the year 1950, "when Belizeans began the struggle for independence". ^[1] Within the wreath is a mahogany tree, in front of which is a shield split per chevron and per pale. The upper sections of the shield show the tools of a woodcutter, while the lower section shows a ship under sail. These are symbolic of the importance of mahogany in the 18th- and 19th-century Belizean economy. ^[3] The motto is Sub umbra floreo ("Under the shade I flourish"), a reference to the country's forests and to its establishment as a colony under British protection. ^[1]

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

Historical versions

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

References

1. "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.