Coat of arms of Venezuela

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The current coat of arms of Venezuela was primarily approved by the Congress on April 18, 1836, undergoing small modifications through history, reaching the version described below. (Note that in heraldic descriptions dexter means right from the viewpoint of a person standing behind the shield, i.e. the viewer's left; sinister means left, i.e. the viewer's right.)

The coat of arms was established in the Law of the National Flag, Shield and Anthem (Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno Nacionales), passed on February 17, 1954. The shield is divided in the colors of the National Flag. In the dexter chief, on a red field, wheat represents the union of the 20 States of the Republic existing at the time and the wealth of the Nation. In sinister chief, on a yellow field, weapons (a sword, a sabre and three lances) and two National Flags are tied by a branch of laurel, as a symbol of triumph in war. In base, on a deep blue field, a wild white horse (perhaps representing Simón Bolívar's white horse Palomo) runs free, an emblem of independence and freedom.

Above the shield are two crossed cornucopias (horns of plenty), pouring out wealth. The shield is flanked by an olive branch and another of palm, both tied at the bottom of the coat with a large band that represents the national tricolour (yellow for the nation's wealth, blue for the ocean separating Venezuela from Spain, and red for the blood and courage of the people). The following captions appear in golden letters on the blue stripe:

19 de Abril de 1810 (April 19, 1810)	20 de Febrero de 1859 (February 20, 1859)
Independencia (Independence)	Federación (Federation)
República de Venezuela (Republic of Venezuela)

In March of 2006 the National Assembly approved changes to the coat of arms and the flag which were made official on March 12, 2006, Flag Day. Prior to 2006, the horse was running to its left with its head turned to its right. In heraldic theory this is a mistake because all "beasts" must face dexter (to their right or the viewer's left).^{[citation needed]} The Economist observed that Hugo Chávez ordered the seal changed after his daughter, Rosinés Chávez Rodríguez, had described the previous horse as "looking backwards".^[1]

Many critics have suggested that the horse, now running leftwards, is a political statement of the current left-wing government of president Hugo Chávez. From a strict heraldic viewpoint, the horse was moving leftwards before it was changed, and now runs rightwards.

Political opponents have claimed that besides being politically motivated, the changes are economically wasteful. [1] At the time of the official unveiling the opposition party stated that they will not use the new flag or coat of arms.

Previously, in the Venezuelan Arms of 1863, the horse was moving as today, heraldically rightwards, leftwards for the viewer. [2]

An Afro-Venezuelan machete, bow and arrow, and several native fruits will also be added to the coat of arms.

[edit] External links

• (Spanish) Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno Nacionales - Law of the National Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem.

	National Symbols of Venezuela
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