Coat of arms of Argentina

The coat of arms of the Argentine Republic or Argentine shield (Spanish: Escudo de la República Argentina) was established in its current form in 1944 but has its origins in the seal of the General Constituent Assembly of 1813. It was chosen quickly because of a decree signed on February 22, which was sealed with the symbol. The first time it appeared in a public document was on March 12, 1813, stating that the seal should be used by the government at the time, known as the second triumvirate.

On April 13, the National Assembly decided to put the seal on new silver and gold coins, and by April 27, the coat of arms became an official national emblem. Although it is not shown on flags today, it has a special place in Argentina’s history. The Buenos Aires-born military leader Manuel Belgrano ordered the coat of arms to be painted on a flag he gave to the city of San Salvador de Jujuy. During the Argentine War of Independence, most flags had the coat of arms, showing its importance in the country’s early days.

Description

It is not known who created the coat of arms of Argentina. Some stories say three men were involved, but no clear records exist.

The coat of arms shows the golden Sun of May, which also appears on the flag of Argentina. This sun stands for Argentina's bright beginning, just like in the words of the Argentine National Anthem. In the center, two hands shake, showing unity among the provinces of Argentina. These hands hold a pike with a special hat called a Phrygian cap on top.

The blue and white colors are important to Argentina, matching its flag. These colors came from the time when Argentina fought for freedom from Spain in 1810. The shaking hands mean friendship and peace, while the pike shows strength. The red hat stands for freedom, reminding people of the French Revolution. Together, the hands, pike, and hat show Argentina's motto: "in unity and freedom." The hat was originally worn in a place called Phrygia and later became a symbol of freedom in ancient Rome. Laurel leaves, like those used in the ancient Olympic Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics, stand for victory and honor.

Provincial shields

Argentina's provincial shields

City of Buenos Aires	Buenos Aires Province	Catamarca	Córdoba
Corrientes	Chaco	Chubut	Entre Ríos
Formosa	Jujuy	La Pampa	La Rioja
Mendoza	Misiones	Neuquén	Río Negro
Salta	San Juan	San Luis	Santa Cruz
Santa Fe	Santiago del Estero	Tierra del Fuego	Tucumán