El Salvador
In
The United Kingdom and Ireland

The country's coat of arms was created by the Salvadorean calligraphist Rafael Barraza Rodríguez who in 1912 was victorious over 30 people on a contest promoted by the then Ministry of War and Marine ( Ministerio de Guerra y Marina). The coat of arms was officially adopted on September the 15^th of the same year.

The " Law of Patriotic Symbols" or "Ley de Simbolos Patrios" Art. 3 and 4 (Decree N. 115, dated 14th of September de 1972) states that :

The Coat of Arms must be on all ports and public offices of the country, including airports, diplomatic missions, and consular sections.

This can also be used on the official vehicles and furniture.

Also, it can be used by the people, inside any residences or inside any private institutions so long as this are from reputable background, in the case of any festivity or occasion on mourning in the country or when authorisation has been given by the executive power.

The Coat of Arms in its black and white or colour representations can be used in official correspondence of the public powers, in sealed papers, fiscal stamps, bonds, currency and other issued by the state.

It may also be issued in metallic coins and currency.

The Great Seal of the Nation and all other official symbols of the state shall therefore carry the Coat of Arms with all it's contents.

People who abuse the use of this official symbol shall be prosecuted.

The Coat of Arms of El Salvador has the following figures:

An equilateral triangle, which it is consider to be the symbol of equality, liberty and fraternity. In here they stand and represent the three powers of the Government: Legislative, Executive and Judicial.

On it's base there can be seen two open seas which represent the spirit of a country that is constant and joint in solidary communion with other free nations.

The five volcanoes, which rise out of the sea, symbolise the five member states of the United Provinces of Central America, braveness of our ancestors and the legacy of a Great Nation. This is also is emphasise on the legend surrounding the coat of arms.

Above the volcanoes is a red Phrygian cap on a staff before a golden sun. It stands as to proclaiming liberty, the luminescence rays surrounding it are the Salvadoreans ideals. Our condition as one nation, is represented on the legend around it which reads: "15 DE SEP DE 1821" (15^th of September, 1821) which is the date of Independence of El Salvador.

In the upper vertex of the triangle there is a rainbow. The iris represents the path of peace, where Central America has walked upon in order to reach it's destiny.

The transparent and luminous sky represents the glory, heroism, and sacrifice of the nation for Liberty.

Behind the coat of arms there are five flags representing the flags of the Federal Republic of Central America raised. Representing as such our legacy and the unify visions of Morazán.

Under it, there is a scroll which states the national motto of El Salvador: "Dios, Unión, Libertad" ("God, Union, Liberty")

All of this is surrounded by a laurel garland, which is tied together under the national flag. The garland is divided into 14 different parts, which symbolise the 14 Departments, the Salvadorean sub-national administrative units.

All this is surrounded by golden letters, which form the Spanish words "REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL "(English: Republic of El Salvador in Central America).