The coat of arms of Guatemala comprises:
- A wreath of bay laurel branches, the symbol for victory;
- The Resplendent Quetzal, a bird that symbolizes liberty;
- A scroll on which is written LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (15 September 1821 is the date of Central America's independence from Spain);
- Two crossed Remington rifles with bayonets indicating Guatemala's willingness to defend itself by force if need be;
- Two crossed swords, representing honour.
The emblem was designed by Swiss artist and engraver Johan-Baptist Frener, who lived in Guatemala from 1854 until his death in 1897.
The coat of arms also appears on the flag of Guatemala. The quetzal previously appeared in the flag of Los Altos, Central America in the 1830s.
Famous quotes containing the words coat of, coat and/or arms:
“Commit a crime and the world is made of glass. Commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge and fox and squirrel and mole.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I told him that Goldsmith had said,... “As I take my shoes from the shoemaker, and my coat from the taylor, so I take my religion from the priest.” I regretted this loose way of talking. JOHNSON. Sir, he knows nothing; he has made up his mind about nothing.””
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
“Because just as arms have no force outside if there is no counsel within a house, study is vain and counsel useless that is not put to virtuous effect when the time calls.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)