Coat of arms of Belize
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The coat of arms of Belize was adopted upon independence in 1981. It differs only slightly different from the arms used when Belize was a British colony (the Union Jack has been removed, and a Mestizo has replaced one of the Afro-Belizean woodcutters supporting the shield).[1][2]
The wreath around the arms is formed of 50 leaves, symbolizing the year 1950, "when Belizeans began the struggle for independence".[1] Within the wreath is a mahogany tree, in front of which is a shield split per chevron and per pale. The upper sections of the shield show the tools of a woodcutter, while the lower section shows a ship under sail. These are symbolic of the importance of mahogany in the 18th- and 19th-century Belizean economy.[3] The motto is Sub umbra floreo ("Under the shade I flourish"), a reference to the country's forests and to its establishment as a colony under British protection.[1]
The flag of Belize features the coat of arms in its centre.
Historical versions
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Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1819–1907
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Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1907–1967
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Coat of arms of British Honduras/Belize, 1967–1981
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Coat of arms of Belize (1981-2019)
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References
Template:Belize topics Template:Coat of arms of North America