Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

The coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands was granted in 1985, upon the creation of the territory. Prior to 1985, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands were a dependency of the Falkland Islands, and used their coat of arms. However, prior to 1962, the islands were grouped with what is now the British Antarctic Territory and their coat of arms was used instead of the Falkland Islands’ arms.

Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Crest	A reindeer
Shield	Lozengy argent and azure, on a pile vert a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules, holding a torch or, inflamed gules, and in chief two estoiles or
Supporters	A fur seal and a macaroni penguin
Motto	Leo Terram Propriam Protegat ('Let the lion protect its own land')

The arms consist of a shield containing a golden lion rampant holding a torch, representing the United Kingdom and discovery, together with two golden estoiles from the arms of James Cook who discovered the islands. The background of the shield is blue and white lozenges. The supporters are an Antarctic fur seal standing on a mountain, and a macaroni penguin standing on ice, both animals native to the islands. The crest is a reindeer, from the two herds of reindeer found on South Georgia Island.

The motto is Leo Terram Propriam Protegat (Latin: “[Let the] Lion protect his own land”).

The coat of arms is used in the fly of the flag of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and as a crest in the defaced Union Flag of the Civil Commissioner.

See also

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

Sources

• Heraldry of the World: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands