The Jamaica Coat of Arms
A little background

I must admit the Jamaica Coat of Arms is perhaps one of the least popular of the National Symbols of Jamaica.

Regardless though it is still quite significantly symbolic!

Our national motto ‘Out of Many One People’ is represented on it. It shows a male and female member of the Taino tribe standing on either side of a shield which bears a red cross with five golden pineapples.

The crest shows a Jamaican crocodile mounted on the Royal Helmet of the British Monarchy and mantling.

Considered as a legacy from the British with slight modifications, the Jamaican Coat of Arms was granted to Jamaicain 1661 under Royal Warrant.

The original was designed by William Sancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Coat of Arms have undergone a number of changes since then, but it is perceived that the three main ones occurred in 1692, 1957 and 1962 respectively.

It may have been dispensed with, but the government and opposition then reached an agreement back decided that it constituted a "badge of great historical significance to the nation and should be retained".

All the figures on the coat of Arms represents Jamaica in different aspects:

• The Pineapples - as the indigenous fruits.
• The Tainos – as the first inhabitants of the country.
• The Crocodile – as the indigenous reptile in the country and
• The use of the Royal Helmet and Mantlings is a unique distinction accorded to Jamaica by the British.

We learnt that the original grant of arms was made in February 1662 not 1661. The latter year is an error owing to the change in 1752 from the old style of dating to the new (the New Year began on March 25 so that what was then 1661 would be 1662 to nowadays).

Today, the Jamaica coat of arms appears on all our bank notes and coins as well as on national documents. In many respects it is used as the final seal of governmental approval.

If interested, Wikipedida can provide you with a detailed history of Coat of Arms Here.

...even more informative pages about Jamaica below:

• Intriguing facts about Jamaica
• National Heroes of Jamaica
• Telephone Directory of Jamaica

Return to National Symbols of Jamaica from Jamaica Coat of Arms OR Return to My Island Jamaica from Jamaica Coat of Arms