Untiled (Coat of Arms of Columbia)

Original watercolour of the Columbian coat of arms comprising an Andean Condor holding a an olive crown, its wings out streched and symbolising freedom. On the scroll the national motto, Libertad y Orden (Spanish for Liberty and Order). The national flag is draped either side of a shield made up of three sections. The lowermost portion is a depiction of ships, pointing to the maritime history of Colombia, namely to the Isthmus of Panama, which was part of Colombia until 1903. Nowadays represents the two oceans that border the country (Atlantic and Pacific). The sails mean 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; this being a traditional symbol of liberty and freedom. The topmost section contains a pomegranate over a blue (azure) field, as a symbol of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (early colonial name of Colombia back in the 18th century), in the middle flanked by two cornucopias or horns of plenty: the one at the right with golden and silver coins and the one at the left with tropical fruits. This portion represents the agricultural and mineral 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 May 9, 1834, with later non-essential modifications according to Ordinance 861 of 1924.