The
national flag is draped on each side of the shield. The shield is broken into three portions. In the lowermost portion is a depiction of two ships, indicating the maritime history of Colombia — mainly to the
Isthmus of Panama — which was part of Colombia until 1903. Nowadays, it represents the two oceans that border the country (
Atlantic and
Pacific). The sails symbolize the Colombian commerce with the rest of the world and the rising economy. In the middle section, over a
field of silver (
argent), the
Phrygian cap is presented, it being a traditional symbol of liberty and freedom. The topmost section contains a
pomegranate over an
azure field, as a symbol of the
Viceroyalty of New Granada (the colonial name of Colombia back in the 18th century), in the middle flanked by two
cornucopias: the left one with golden and silver coins and the right one with tropical fruits, representing the mineral and agricultural wealth of Colombian soil. The coat of arms of the Republic was designed by
Francisco de Paula Santander, and was adopted via Act 3 of 9 May 1834, with later non-essential modifications according to Ordinance 861 of 1924. ==Gallery==