Emblem of Guinea-Bissau

The national emblem of Guinea-Bissau was adopted shortly after independence from Portugal in 1973.

Emblem of Guinea-Bissau
Armiger	Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Adopted	1994
Crest	None
Torse	None
Blazon	Gules, in chief a Mullet or five points Sable
Supporters	Two wreathes of laurel proper
Compartment	A sea shell Or
Motto	Unidade, Luta, Progresso (Portuguese: "Unity, Struggle, Progress")
Order(s)	None

Design

Featured prominently is a black star, that is part of traditional Pan-African symbolism, and is often referred to as the Black star of Africa. A seashell at the bottom unites two symmetrical olive branches. The sea shell is symbolism for the location of the country on the West coast of Africa.

The red banner contains the national motto of Guinea-Bissau: that translates to English as "Unity, Struggle, Progress".

Historical coat of arms

In 1935, the Portuguese colonies were officially assigned coats of arms that followed a standard design pattern.[2]

• 
  Coat of arms of Portuguese Guinea between May 8, 1935 - June 11, 1951.
• 
  Coat of arms of Portuguese Guinea from June 11, 1951 to September 24, 1973.
• 
  Lesser coat of arms between May 8, 1935 - September 24, 1973.
• 
  Coat of arms of Guinea-Bissau (1973-1994)
• 
  Coat of arms of Guinea-Bissau (1994–present)

References

1. "Portaria 8098: Aprova as ordenações das armas das colónias que, nos termos da Constituïção e do Acto Colonial, formam o Império Colonial Português", Diário do Govêrno n.º 104/1935, Série I de 1935-05-08, 597-599 (in Portuguese)
2. published in the Diário do Govêrno[1]