National Arms of São Tomé e Príncipe

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Saotomep.jpg
Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of São Tomé e Príncipe
Saotomep.jpg


National Arms of São Tomé e Príncipe

Saotomep.jpg

Origin/meaning:
The arms were adopted in 1975 and have been confirmed several times in the constitution.

The palmtree symbolizes the main trade crop of the republic, copra. The star is for the republican form of government in Africa. The birds symbolize the local avifauna: the falcon probably is a Lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus - Falconidæ); the parrot is an African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus - Psittaciformes) common in West Africa.

The Portuguese colony of São Tomé e Príncipe was granted arms on May 8, 1935.

Colony.jpg

The arms follow the general design of the Portuguese colonies, the shield placed on an armillary sphere, crowned with a mural crown with five towers and in the shield the five shields of Portugal. The left half of the arms shows a mill-wheel with drops of water flying off. This was the personal symbol of king Alphonso V (1438-'81), during whose reign the islands were discovered. The base shows waves for the sea.

St-c1.jpg

The colonial arms on a coin.

Literature : Images and information taken from http://hubert-herald.nl