Coat of arms of Guatemala
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{{Infobox coat of arms
|name = Coat of arms of Guatemala
Escudo de Guatemala
|image = File:Coat of arms of Guatemala with background.svg
|image_width = 150
|middle =
|middle_width =
|middle_caption =
|lesser = File:Coat of arms of Guatemala.svg
|lesser_width =
|lesser_caption = Version without the shield
|armiger = Republic of Guatemala
|year_adopted = 18 November 1871
|crest =
|torse =
|shield = "A shield with two rifles and two swords crossed with a wreath of laurel on a field of light blue. The middle will harbor a scroll of parchment with the words "Liberty 15 of September of 1821" in gold and in the upper part a Resplendent quetzal as the symbol of national independence and autonomy."
|supporters =
|compartment =
|motto = Libertad 15 de septiembre de 1821
"Freedom September 15, 1821"
|orders =
|other_elements =
|earlier_versions =
|use =
}}
The current coat of arms of Guatemala was adopted after the {{interlanguage link|1871 Liberal Revolution|es|Revolución Liberal de 1871}} by a decree of president Miguel García Granados. It consists of multiple symbols representing liberty and sovereignty on a bleu celeste shield. According to government specifications, the coat of arms should be depicted without the shield only when on the flag, but the version lacking the shield is often used counter to these regulations.{{cite web |title=Guatemala - Coat of Arms |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gt).html |website=www.crwflags.com |access-date=25 May 2020}}
History
In 1871, for the 50th anniversary of Guatemala gaining independence, president Miguel García Granados asked the mint to produce a design to commemorate the event. The Swiss engraver Johann-Baptist Frener possibly{{Cite book |last=Ruttley |first=M |title=Johann-Baptist Frener - Life & Works 1821-92 |publisher=IFO |year=2023 |isbn=979-8-9888531-0-7 |pages=66–68}} designed the shield, and Granados decided to adopt it as the national coat of arms, abandoning the previous coat of arms which had conservative symbolism.{{cite web |last1=Kwei |first1=Ivon |title=El escudo de armas, símbolo patrio de Guatemala |url=https://aprende.guatemala.com/cultura-guatemalteca/civismo/escudo-de-armas-simbolo-patrio-guatemala/ |website=Aprende Guatemala.com |access-date=25 May 2020 |language=es-GT |date=6 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.icap.ac.cr/index.php/integracion-centroamericana/simbolos-nacionales |title=Símbolos Nacionales |access-date=2015-03-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094845/http://www.icap.ac.cr/index.php/integracion-centroamericana/simbolos-nacionales |archive-date=2015-04-02 }} In Executive Decree No. 33 of 18 November, the coat of arms was described:
The arms of the republic will be: a shield with two rifles and two swords crossed with a wreath of laurel on a field of light blue. The middle will harbor a scroll of parchment with the words "Liberty 15 of September of 1821" in gold and in the upper part a Quetzal as the symbol of national independence and autonomy.{{cite book |title=Cartilla cívica Libre al viento |date=2002 |publisher=Editorial Piedra Santa |isbn=9992258063 |page=48}}
The flag and coat of arms were further regulated in detail in a 12 September 1968 decree by the government of president Julio César Méndez Montenegro, specifying the elements, colors, and the specific shade of blue on the shield.{{cite web |title=Bandera de Guatemal |url=https://hoyhistoriagt.org/tag/bandera-de-guatemal/ |website=Hoy en la Historia de Guatemala |access-date=25 May 2020 |language=es-ES}}
Symbolism
The elements of the coat of arms has the following symbolism:
- The Resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and represents freedom and independence of the nation.
- The crossed Remington rifles are the type used during the 1871 Liberal Revolution and represent the will to defend Guatemala's interests.
- The crossed swords represent justice and honor.
- The laurel wreath represents victory.
- The parchment at the center reads "LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821" (Liberty 15 of September of 1821), the date Guatemala gained independence from Spain.
Historical coats of arms
Escudo_de_las_Provincias_Unidas_del_Centro_de_América.svg|1823–1838 (within Central America)
Coat_of_arms_of_Guatemala_(1825-1843).svg|1825–1843
Coat_of_arms_of_Guatemala_(1843-1851).svg|1843–1851
Coat of arms of guatemala (1851-1858).svg|1851–1858
Coat of arms of Guatemala (1858-1871).svg|1858–1871
Coat of arms of Guatemala (1871-1968).svg|1871–1968
Coat of arms of Guatemala with background.svg|1968–present