The decree no. 64-237 of 26 June 1964, modifying the decree no. 60-78 of 8 February 1960 establishing the coat of arms of the Republic of Ivory Coast, defines in its second article the coat of arms as follows : ''"On an
escutcheon Vert an elephant's head, the shield surmounted by an issuant eclipsed sun
Or radiating of nine part Or. At dexter and sinister two trees Or and the
Argent inscription « ''République de Côte d'Ivoire
» on Or strip.". Therefore, this decree states that the coat of arms of Côte d'Ivoire is composed of six elements: • The elephant's head; • The golden rising sun; • The two golden
palm trees; • The green
escutcheon (at the creation of the coat of arms of February 8, 1960, the escutcheon was
Azure); • The golden strip; • The
Argent "''République de Côte d'Ivoire''" inscription on the strip. The Coat of arms of the Republic act : • As a means of identification for the Republic and its institutions. For this purpose, it must be placed on all official documents in the middle top or in the upper right corner, as a stamp; • As a means of education, a call for unity and solidarity against all adversity. Historically, the designers of the coat of arms were inspired by natural elements symbolizing the main political parties during the colonial period, the elephant representing the PDCI and the trees the former progressive party. == Evolutions from 1960 to today ==