View source for Coat of arms of Malta

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Coat of arms of Malta
|image            = Coat of arms of Malta.svg
|image_width      = 220
|middle           = Flag of Malta.svg
|middle_width     = 250
|middle_caption   = The [[banner of arms]], which serves as [[Flag of Malta|national flag]]
|lesser           = 
|lesser_width     = 
|lesser_caption   = 
|armiger          = [[Malta|Republic of Malta]]<br>
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|as well as:}}
| [[Myriam Spiteri Debono]], [[President of Malta]]
| [[Robert Abela]], [[Prime Minister of Malta]]
| [[Cabinet of Malta]]
| [[Parliament of Malta]]
| [[Judiciary of Malta]]
| National Audit Office
| Heads of Maltese [[List of diplomatic missions of Malta|diplomatic mission]]s (ambassadors, consuls, etc)
| Maltese civil law notaries
}}
|year_adopted     = 28 October 1988
|crest            = A mural crown with a [[sally port]] and five [[vedette (sentry)|vedettes]].
|torse            = 
|shield           = [[Flag of Malta]]: Per pale argent and gules, a representation of [[George Cross]] argent fimbriated gules in Dexter Chief
|supporters       = Dexter, An olive branch; sinister, a palm branch in vert all in their proper colours, tied at base with a ribbon argent, backed gules and upon which is written in capital letters sable the name of the country in the [[Maltese language]]. 
|compartment      = 
|motto            = {{lang|mt|Repubblika ta' Malta}}
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = 
|use              = 
}}
The '''coat of arms of Malta''' is the [[national coat of arms]] of the country of [[Malta]].

The present [[coat of arms]] is described by the Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act of 1988 as a [[shield]] showing an heraldic representation of the [[flag of Malta|national flag of Malta]]; above the shield a [[mural crown]] in gold with a [[sally port]] and five [[Turret (architecture)|turrets]] representing the [[fortifications of Malta]] and denoting a [[city-state]]; and around the shield a [[wreath]] of two branches: the dexter of [[olive]], the sinister of [[palm tree|palm]], symbols of [[peace]] and traditionally associated with Malta, all in their proper colours, tied at base with a white ribbon, backed red and upon which are written the words {{lang|mt|Repubblika ta' Malta}} (“Republic of Malta” in [[Maltese language|Maltese]]) in capital letters in black.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flags, Symbols and their uses |url=https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Flags-Symbols-and-their-use.aspx |publisher=[[Government of Malta]] |access-date=28 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629143728/https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Flags-Symbols-and-their-use.aspx |archive-date=29 June 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Flag of the President of Malta.svg|right|thumb|Presidential Standard of Malta]]
The national coat of arms also appears on the [[President of Malta|Presidential Standard of Malta]].

The various coats of arms appear on passports, excise stamps, official documents and various other uses. Many Maltese coins feature a coat of arms, most notably the [[coins of the Maltese lira#Second series (1986-2007)|second series]] of the Maltese lira, some [[Maltese euro coins]], and many gold or silver commemorative coins (either denominated in the Maltese lira or in [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Malta)|Euro]]). Coats of arms were featured various times on Maltese postage stamps as well.

==Coats of arms between 1800 and 1964==
Malta was a British [[Malta Protectorate|protectorate]] from 1800 to 1813 and a [[Malta Colony|colony]] from 1813 to 1964. The coat of arms used in Malta was the arms of Great Britain:

<gallery>
File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|1800–1801
File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1801-1816).svg|1801–1816
File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg|1816–1837
File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|1901–1952
File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (St Edward's Crown).svg|1952–1964
</gallery>

However, Malta had three colonial badges between 1875 and 1964. The first (1875 – {{circa|1898}}) showed a white Maltese cross on a white and red panel, the second ({{ca.|1898}} – 1943) showed a white and red shield (like the arms of Mdina), and the third (1943–1964) was like the 1898 arms, but with a [[George Cross]] on a blue [[canton (heraldry)|canton]] on the white half. All three badges were featured on the Maltese state ensigns and the Governor's flag:

<gallery>
File:Badge of Malta (1875–1898).svg|1875 – {{ca.|1898}}
File:Badge of Malta (1898–1943).svg|{{ca.|1898}} – 1943
File:Badge of Malta (1943–1964).svg|1943–1964
</gallery>

==Coat of arms between 1964 and 1975==
[[File:Coat of arms of Malta 1964-1975.svg|thumb|150px|left|Coat of arms of Malta from 1964 to 1975]]
[[File:Coat of arms of the Governor-General of Malta (1964–1974).svg|thumb|150px|right|Coat of arms of the Governor-General of Malta]]

This [[coat of arms]] was adopted upon [[state of Malta|independence]] on 21 September 1964. It depicts two [[dolphin]]s which support a depiction of the [[Flag of Malta|Maltese flag]], one with [[palm branch]] and the other with an [[olive]] twig representing victory and [[peace]] respectively. Above is a mural crown shaped like a [[fort]] with five octagonal turrets surmounts a helmet, with red and white ribbons. Below are blue waves representing the surrounding [[Mediterranean Sea]], the [[Maltese Cross|Maltese eight-pointed Cross]] representing the connection with the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of St. John]] as well as courage and determination. The ribbon under the shield has the motto {{lang|la|Virtute et Constantia}} (by Valour and Firmness). Nowadays, this motto is used by the National Order of Merit.

A version with a [[Lion (heraldry)|statant guardant lion]] on the [[St Edward's Crown]] instead of the mural crown was also used, and this served as the coat of arms of the [[Governor-General of Malta]].<ref name="times8-5-11">{{cite news |last1=Bonello |first1=Giovanni |title=Malta's three national emblems since independence – what's behind them? |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110508/life-features/malta-s-three-national-emblems-since-independence-what-s-behind-them.364316 |access-date=28 September 2014 |work=[[Times of Malta]] |date=8 May 2011 }}</ref>
{{clearleft}}

==Emblem between 1975 and 1988==
[[File:Emblem of Malta (1975–1988).svg|thumb|150px|left|Emblem of Malta from 1975 to 1988]]

This emblem was adopted on the 11 July 1975, seven months after Malta became a republic. It showed a coastal scene with the rising sun, a [[dgħajsa|traditional Maltese boat]], a shovel and a pitchfork, and an ''[[Opuntia]]''. All of these symbols are somewhat connected to [[Malta]]. Underneath the image the then-new name of the state {{lang|mt|Repubblika ta' Malta}} (Republic of Malta) was written.

The Maltese Prime Minister, [[Dom Mintoff]], had wanted to change the 1964 coat of arms since he mistook the mural crown as representing royalty and therefore had no place on republican Malta's coat of arms.<ref name="times8-5-11"/> Mintoff chose a class of art students taught by [[Esprit Barthet]] to create a design to be used on the covers of passports, and a design by Edward Abela was chosen. A final design was agreed upon and the new passports  were printed and the design was officially adopted as the emblem of Malta.<ref name=times8-5-11/>

The emblem was controversial since it was not heraldic, and it was replaced by the current coat of arms soon after the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalists]] won the [[Maltese general election, 1987|1987 election]]. It was proposed that the 1964 coat of arms be readopted, but eventually a simplified version of it was chosen. The new coat of arms was designed by Adrian Strickland, who prepared preliminary sketches, and Robert Calì, who finished the design.<ref name="times8-5-11"/>

== See also ==
[[File:George Cross Malta P1440218.jpg|thumb|right|120px|The George Cross awarded to Malta (National War Museum, Malta)]]

* [[Flag of Malta]]
* [[History of Malta]]
* [[Culture of Malta]]
* [[Politics of Malta]]
* [[Maltese heraldry]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National coat of arms of Malta}}
*[http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8747&l=1 Cap. 253 - Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act]

{{Malta topics}}
{{Coats of arms of Europe}}

[[Category:National coats of arms|Malta]]
[[Category:National symbols of Malta]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with crosses|Malta]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with dolphins|Malta]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with olive branches|Malta]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with palm branches|Malta]]
[[Category:Saint George and the Dragon]]