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Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)
German Civic Heraldry

BIRKENFELD

State : Rheinland-Pfalz
District (Kreis) : Birkenfeld

Wappen von Birkenfeld

Origin/meaning:
The arms were granted in 1924 and are based on the oldest known seal of the city, dating from 1577. The arms show a birch tree as a canting symbol (Birke). The chequered shield is the arms of the Counts of Sponheim, who ruled the village and city (city rights were granted in 1332) from the 13th century until 1437.

The number of fields in the small shield varies as it is not officially described. Hupp showed a variant with much less fields :

Wappen von Birkenfeld

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Hupp, O: Kaffee Hag albums, 1920s.


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