Seal of Cape Town

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Seal of Cape Town was the official coat of arms of the municipality of Cape Town. These arms are no longer in official use, and no new arms have yet been adopted. In consequence, the Flag of Cape Town has now been adopted as the main symbol used by the municipality.

The original municipal arms were granted to the city by the Commissioner-General in June 1804 under authority from the Batavian Government. In February 1899, during the period of British rule of the Cape Colony, the full arms were granted under Letters Patent from the College of Arms in London after the addition of a crest, mantling and supporters. The same coat of arms was registered unchanged by the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 16 January 1972.

In heraldic terms the coat of arms is described as follows:

• Arms: Or, an anchor erect Sable, stock proper, from the ring a riband flowing Azure and suspended therefrom an escutcheon Gules charged with three annulets Or.
• Crest: On the battlements of a tower proper, a trident in bend Or, surmounted by an anchor and cable in bend sinister, Sable.
• Wreath and mantling: Or and Sable.
• Supporters: On a compartment below the shield consisting of rocky mounds, dexter, a female figure proper vested Argent, mantle and sandals Azure, on her head an estoile irradiated Or, supporting with her dexter hand an anchor proper; sinister, a lion rampant guardant Gules.
• Motta: Spes Bona (Good Hope).