MIERES
Province : Asturias
Origin/meaning:
The arms were granted on March 25, 1965.
The upper half of the arms shows the arms of Bernaldo de Quirós family, who were first mentioned in Mieres in 1474.
The lower half shows a wheel, the symbol of industry, and miner's tools symbolising the gold mining in the area. The base of the shield shows some waves symbolising the Caudal river.
The first arms for Mieres were designed in 1900 by Bellmunt y Canella. The arms showed a similar pattern, the upper half showing again the arms of the Bernaldo de Quirós family, but with a border of small crosses. The lower half showed a mine entrance in a hill instead of the waves, indicating the importance of the mining.
These arms were never officially adopted.
In 1964 the local council adopted new arms, similar to the present arms, but with an overall border of bricks and similarly a bar of bricks on the horizontal division line. The Royal Academy of History considered the bricks not appropriate and also adapted the colours of the different elements and designed the present arms from the proposal.
Literature : Panizo Gomez, 1994.
coats of arms on-line ! 
