Coat of arms of South Sea Islands
| Coat of arms of South Sea Islands | |
 | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1910 |
| The arms feature a shield, with the top third containing two horizontal blue stripes and one horizon white stripe. The white stripe contains three red pompeblêd. The bottom two thirds depict a coastal scene representing the arrival of the SS.Endeavour on Trinity Island. | |
The Coat of arms of the South Sea Islands is the heraldic and national symbol of the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands. Adopted in 1910 alongside the national anthem, the adoption of the shield symbol is considered to be an important milestone in the creation of a unified national identify, distinct from the primarily Nova English and Britannic heritage of many of the islanders. The coat of the arms is the state seal of the South Sea Islands, and is mainly used by the islands' national government and civic authorities.
Symbolism
The upper third of the shield is representative of the Frysk cultural influence on the islands, which stems from the Batavian occupation of Madison Isle. While the pompeblêd symbol is an artistic depiction of a water lily, the association with the islands is entirely cultural, with the harsh southern climate being poorly suited to their cultivation.
The bottom two thirds of the shield depict the arrival of the SS.Endeavour on Trinity Island in 1835. The moment and the events leading up to it are popularly known as the Journey of Frozen Tears, and mark the foundation of the South Sea Islands as a nation. Notably, the Endeavour is depicted with the flag of Nova England flying from its stern. The original ensign of the ship is believed to have been used to form the basis for the very first Flag of the South Sea Islands, and the inclusion of the flag in the coat of arms was a deliberate reference to this event.
Usage
The coat of arms is the state seal and national emblem of the South Sea Islands, and is second in popularity only to the national flag. The shield symbol is present as a plaque above the main doorway of all government buildings including schools, municipal offices, courthouses and military installations.
The Lieutenant Governor's personal standard features a crowned version of the shield on a red field, with the crown denoting that the head of the government acts on behalf of His Royal Majesty King Josephus I as head of state. The standard is flown alongside the Flag of the South Sea Islands on Government House in Joseph Town.
Sports teams, clubs and associations can apply to use the national coat of arms when representing the South Sea Islands aboard, however it is not possible to use the symbol when competing in domestic competitions.
