Coat of arms of Gibraltar

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The coat of arms of Gibraltar was first granted on July 10, 1502 by Isabella of Castile. They are the oldest coat of arms in use in an Overseas territory of the United Kingdom, and unique in that they are they only arms that date from before the period of British colonial administration.

The arms consist of a shield with a red triple-towered castle on a white background with a golden key dependent from the centre on a red background. The castle does not resemble any in Gibraltar, but is supposed to represent the fortress of Gibraltar. The key is said to symbolise the fortress' significance. The motto is Montis Insignia Calpe, meaning Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar.^{[citation needed]}

The arms differ from the seal of Gibraltar, which is an image of the Rock of Gibraltar with a sailing ship in the forefront. There is no evidence available as to when this image was created.

From 1982, a banner of the arms has been used as the Flag of Gibraltar. The arms also appear in the flag of the Governor of Gibraltar.

The arms of the government of Gibraltar are the same as the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom plus a badge featuring the coat of arms of Gibraltar underneath.

[edit] See also

• List of coats of arms of the United Kingdom and dependencies