Coat of Arms of South Africa - 1910 Arms

1910 Arms

The first coat of arms was granted by King George V by Royal Warrant on 17 September 1910. This was a few months after the formation of the Union of South Africa.

It was a combination of symbols representing the four provinces (formerly colonies) that made up the Union.

• The first quarter is the figure of Hope, representing the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.
• The two wildebeests of the second quarter represent Colony of Natal.
• The orange tree in the third quarter was used as the symbol of the Orange Free State Republic.
• The wagon in the fourth quarter represented the Transvaal.
• The supporters are taken from the arms of the Orange River Colony and the Cape Colony.
• The lion holds four rods, bound together, symbolizing the unification of the four former colonies.

The motto, Ex Unitate Vires was officially translated as "Union is Strength" until 1961, and thereafter as "Unity is Strength".