Coat of arms of Italy

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The Coat of Arms of the Italian Republic depicted here has been the symbol of the Italian Republic since 5 May 1948. Technically it is an emblem rather than a coat of arms, as it was not designed to obey traditional heraldic rules.

1 Meaning
2 History
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Meaning

The emblem comprises a white five-pointed star, with a red border, superimposed on a five-spoked cogwheel which stands between an olive branch on its left and a branch of oak on its right; the branches in turn are bound by a red ribbon bearing the legend "REPVBBLICA ITALIANA" (Italian Republic in Italian).

The star is an ancient symbol of the personification of Italy (Italia Turrita), usually shining on her head, and was a symbol of the Kingdom of Italy from 1890;
The steel cogwheel refers to the first article of the Constitution of Italy, which says that "Italy is a democratic Republic based on work"; its shape recall also the tower-crown, another symbol used by the personification of Italy;
The olive branch stands for the republic’s desire for peace, internal and international, and refers to Article 11 of the Constitution ("Italy rejects war [...]");
The oak branch stands for the strength and dignity of the Italian people.

Oak and olive trees are also characteristic of the Italian landscape.

[edit] History

The decision to provide the new Italian Republic with an emblem was taken by the government of Alcide De Gasperi in October 1946. The design was chosen with a public competition, with the requirements that all the political party emblems were forbidden, and that the emblem was to include the Italian star. The five winners received new requirements for the design of the emblem: it should represent a tower-crown, with the star and the sea, and the words "Unità" and "Libertà" (Unity and Liberty). The winner was Paolo Paschetto, and the emblem was presented in February 1947.

This version, however, did not meet public approval, so a new competition was held, which again was won by Paolo Paschetto. The new emblem was approved by the Constituent Assembly in February 1948, and officially adopted by President Enrico De Nicola on May 5, 1948.