Coat of arms of Cuba

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The Cuban Coat of Arms consists of three divisions, crowned by the Phrygian Cap (Gorro Frigio) or liberty cap that has a sole star, with the borders of the divisions surrounded by an oak branch on one side and a laurel wreath on the other. It was created by Miguel de Teurbe Tolon.

The oak branch symbolizes the strength of the nation; and the laurel wreath: honour and glory. The Phrygian Cap serves as a crown symbolizing liberty, and the sole star on the Phrygian Cap stands for independence.

These symbols were meant to represent the rights of man: Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. In the first top division, horizontally, there is a key symbolizing Cuba’s geographical position as the key to the Gulf of Mexico, with a bright rising sun in the background, which represents the rising new republic. In the division located to the left are the stripes, vertically, representing the three departments which divide the island: Oriental, Central y Occidental (the Eastern, Central and Western).

In the division toward the right, there are pictures of mountains, rivers, the valley and most evident a Royal Palm Tree, the national tree of Cuba - graceful and elegant - representing the rich soil that Cuba has been blessed with.

The Cuban coat of arms is the official heraldic symbol of Cuba. These arms were adopted on April 24, 1906. The coat of arms consist of blue and white bands in the lower left quadrant; a palm tree in the right quadrant; and a key in the sea. The official description of the coat of arms is as follows:

"The National coat of arms represents our island. It is shaped like a pointed leather shield, and divided into three sections. In its horizontal upper part, there is a golden key between two mountains, and a sun rising over the sea - which symbolises the position of Cuba in the Gulf, between the two Americas, amidst the emergence of a new state. The blue and white stripes, down the left hand side, represent the situation of the island, in terms of its division into states, in the colonial period. Down the right hand side, a Cuban country scene is dominated by a royal palm tree - the symbol of the unbreakable character of the Cuban people."