View source for Coat of arms of Dominica

{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Coat of arms of Dominica
|image            = Coat of arms of Dominica.svg
|image_width      = 
|middle           = 
|middle_width     = 
|middle_caption   = 
|lesser           = 
|lesser_width     = 
|lesser_caption   = 
|armiger          = [[Dominica|Commonwealth of Dominica]]
|year_adopted     = 1961
|crest            = A Rocky Mount Sable thereon a Lion Passant guardant Or
|torse            = Argent and Azure
|shield           = Quarterly Or and Azure a cross fillet counterchanged in the first quarter on a Rocky Mount Sable a Coconut Tree fructed proper in the second a Dominica Crapaud also proper in the third on Water Barry wavy in base a Carib canoe with sail set all likewise proper in the fourth quarter on a Rocky Mount also sable a Banana Tree fructed also proper
|supporters       = On either side of Sisserou Parrot (''Amazona imperials'') proper beaked and membered or
|compartment      = 
|motto            = Apres Bondie C'est La Ter ([[Kwéyòl]]: After God, it is the earth.) 
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = [[File:CoA of Dominica (1909–1961).svg]]
|use              = 1909–1961
}}

The '''coat of arms of [[Dominica]]''' was adopted on July 21, 1961. It consists of a shield with two guardian [[sisserou parrot]]s bracing the shield atop of which is a lion passant. The quarters of the shield depict a canoe, a banana tree, a palm and a frog of the native species known as the [[mountain chicken]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7948124.stm Fungus devastates 'chicken' frog]</ref> Below the shield is the national motto: Apres Bondie C'est La Ter (After God is the Earth).<ref>[http://www.dominica.gov.dm/about-dominica/national-symbols/coat-of-arms Dominica — Coat of Arms]</ref>

==Official description==
The government of Dominica gives two official descriptions of the coat of arms:<ref>[http://www.dominica.gov.dm/about-dominica/national-symbols/coat-of-arms Coat of arms – Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica]</ref>
===Heraldic description ([[blazon]])===
''Quarterly Or and Azure a cross fillet counterchanged in the first quarter on a Rocky Mount Sable a Coconut Tree fructed proper in the second a Dominica Crapaud also proper in the third on Water Barry wavy in base a Carib canoe with sail set all likewise proper in the fourth quarter on a Rocky Mount also sable a Banana Tree fructed also proper and for the crest. On a Wreath Argent and Azure a Rocky Mount Sable thereon a Lion Passant guardant Or and for the Supporters. On either side of Sisserou Parrot (Amazona imperials) proper beaked and membered or together with this motto APRES BONDIE C'EST LA TER.''
===Non-heraldic description===
''The Coat of Arms of Dominica bears the inscription 'Apres Bondie C'est La Ter' ({{lit|after God the Earth}}), which emphasizes the importance of the soil in the island with its economy based on agriculture.''

''The design depicts a shield divided into four quarters of a cross, referring to the Island’s name, because of its discovery on a Sunday. In first quarter on the top left, you see the black volcanic soil of Dominica supporting a coconut tree, and in the fourth quarter on bottom right a fully developed banana stem bearing a mature bunch of fruits is shown. Our Crapaud, the second quarter, while in the third quarter, a canoe under sail glides on the Caribbean Sea. A wreath of silver and blue bears the crest, a golden lion standing upon a black rocky mount with the Sisserou parrot (Amazona imperialis) as supporters.''

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Coat of arms of the British Leeward Islands (1909–1940).svg|[[Coat of arms of the British Leeward Islands|Coat of arms of the]] [[British Leeward Islands]] (1909–1940), with the top-right shield representing Dominica
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Coat of arms of North America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coat Of Arms Of Dominica}}
{{Dominica-stub}}
{{Heraldry-stub}}

[[Category:National symbols of Dominica]]
[[Category:National coats of arms|Dominica]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with birds|Dominica]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with trees|Dominica]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with boats|Dominica]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with lions|Dominica]]
[[Category:National emblems with birds|Dominica]]