The coat of arms of Nova Scotia is the heraldic symbol representing the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is the oldest provincial achievement of arms in Canada, and the oldest Scottish coat of arms in use outside Scotland. It is blazoned as follows: Argent, a saltire azure charged with an escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Scotland.

The arms were originally granted in 1625 by King Charles I for the first Scottish colony in the Americas. The arms are also borne as a heraldic badge by the Baronets of Nova Scotia, a chivalric order of Scotland and then, from 1707, Great Britain.

They fell out of use when Nova Scotia joined the Confederation in 1867, but were restored in 1929 by royal warrant of King George V.

History

The arms were originally granted in 1625 by King Charles I as part of a Scottish settlement attempt in Nova Scotia led by Sir William Alexander. These remained in use until the mid 19th century, appearing on the great seal of the province used prior to Confederation in 1867, after which all the provincial great seals were replaced with new ones delivered in 1868. That for Nova Scotia had a new coat of arms comprising a salmon on a blue band between three thistles, on a gold field. The provincial government disliked this and wanted to continue using the old seal, but the federal government did not initially take the necessary steps to facilitate this. Pressure to restore it grew, and it was reassumed in 1929, with the newer arms being abandoned. The original coat of arms was augmented with a compartment upon the issue of the new royal warrant in 1929.

See also

  • Symbols of Nova Scotia
  • Flag of Nova Scotia
  • Coat of arms of the Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Canadian heraldry
  • National symbols of Canada
  • List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols

References

  • Coat of Arms (Armorial Achievement) – Government of Nova Scotia
  • Arms and flag of Nova Scotia in the online Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges
  • Warrant granting Armorial Bearings for the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and a Great Seal for the Dominion of Canada Canada Gazette, volume 3, number 22, 27 November 1869, page 36
  • Royal Warrant Assigning Armorial Ensigns to the Province of Nova Scotia Canada Gazette, volume 63, number 22, 30 November 1929, page 1984