Coat of arms of São Tomé and Príncipe

The coat of arms of São Tomé and Príncipe is the heraldic emblem of São Tomé and Príncipe, an island country located off the western coast of Central Africa.^[1] It consists of a peregrine falcon on the left and a grey parrot on the right holding a cocoa pod–shaped shield with a palm in its center.^[2][3] The height of the shield is one-third greater than its width.^[2] The shield is surmounted by a blue star, and above it there is a band that states the official name of the country in Portuguese.^[3] The national motto – "Unity, discipline, work" – is inscribed in Portuguese at the base of the arms.^[3]

Coat of arms of São Tomé and Príncipe
Armiger	Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Adopted	12 July 1975; 49 years ago (1975-07-12)
Crest	A mullet of five points azure
Torse	Vert and azure
Shield	Or, a palm eradicated proper
Supporters	A peregrine falcon dexter and a grey parrot sinister, both proper
Motto	Unidade, Disciplina, Trabalho (English: "Unity, Discipline, Work")

History

In 1935, the colonies of the Portuguese Empire were officially assigned coats of arms that followed a standard design pattern.^[4] São Tomé and Príncipe went through three different coats of arms during the Portuguese colonial period.^{[citation needed]}

Coats of arms of Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe (1933–1975)

• 
  Coat of arms between 1933 and 8 May 1935
• 
  Coat of arms between 8 May 1935 and 11 June 1951
• 
  Coat of arms between 11 June 1951 and 12 July 1975
• 
  Lesser coat of arms between 8 May 1935 and 12 July 1975

Upon its independence from Portugal on 12 July 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe adopted its current coat of arms alongside its national flag and national anthem.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Sao Tome and Principe". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 30 July 2024.
2. "Constituição da República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe" [Constitution of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe] (in Portuguese). São Tomé: Government of São Tomé and Príncipe. 6 December 2002. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024.
3. Mumford, Simon, ed. (16 November 2021). Complete Flags of the World: The Ultimate Pocket Guide. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-241-52356-8. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
4. "Portaria 8098: Aprova as ordenações das armas das colónias que, nos termos da Constituïção e do Acto Colonial, formam o Império Colonial Português" [Ordinance 8098: Approves the ordinances of the arms of the colonies that, under the terms of the Constitution and the Colonial Act, form the Portuguese Colonial Empire]. Diário do Govêrno n.º 104/1935, Série I de 1935-05-08, 597-599 (in Portuguese).