Coats of Arms of Westarctica

The coat of arms of Westarctica was established in its current form in 2015 as a National Symbol of Westarctica, but arms for the nation have existed in various forms since 2005. It was originally used in it's most basic form (without supporters) on the reverse side of Westarctica's coins, and a version with lion supporters was in the letterhead for decrees and correspondence issued by the Grand Duke.

Early history (2005 - 2014)

Arms of Westarctica from 2005 - 2015

The first coat of arms for Westarctica was created by Jon-Lawrence Langer in January 2005 in his capacity as Chief Herald. The colors and design were based upon the first Flag of Westarctica: a green cross upon a field of teal. Instead of green and teal, however, Langer chose the colors yellow and sky blue to help set it apart from the flag.

These arms were quickly embraced by Grand Duke Travis, who integrated the new arms into a more robust version with gilded lions as supporters. This version was actually just an edited graphic of the coat of arms of Luxembourg, but it graced the letterhead of many of the Grand Duke's early decrees, correspondence, Proclamations of Titleage, and Courtesy titles. An even more colorful and original crest was later created to frame the arms which featured a grand ducal crown atop a knight's armorial helmet. This would become the most publicly recognizable variant of the arms and remained in use throughout the reigns of subsequent Grand Dukes.

Greater Arms

Greater Arms of Westarctica

In early 2015, Grand Duke Travis commissioned a new coat of arms from Michael Richards, the Ellsworth King of Arms. These arms were more colorful and more closely resembled the traditional arms of European royal families. The new arms echoed the general layout and composition of the original Langer-created arms, but in a more subdued color scheme with an updated crown symbol. These arms featured lions as supporters surrounded by the ornamental chain of the Order of the Snowflake. Westarctica's national motto, "Fortune Favors the Bold" is written in English along the bottom of the arms.

These arms became known as the Greater Arms of Westarctica and are used only for the highest, most important documents of State. All Letters Patent creating new titles in the Peerage of Westarctica bear the Greater Arms.

Lesser Arms

Lesser Arms of Westarctica

Shortly after the Greater Arms had been created, Grand Duke Travis was approached by Erik White, the Baron of Forrester with a variant version of arms that His Lordship felt would be an appropriate alternative. The Forrester arms featured white snowflakes upon a field of dark blue with two orcas as supporters topped with a royal crown.

Grand Duke Travis liked these arms so much that he decided to add them to the National Symbols of Westarctica for more casual, presentational uses and called them the Lesser Arms of Westarctica. For example, the Grand Duke has a coffee mug bearing the Lesser Arms, and they are used in Westarctica's Honorary Consulates around the world. These arms may be utilized by any citizen, knight, or noble peer who wishes to display a general coat of arms that symbolize their loyalty to the nation.

The Lesser Arms have also been featured on Westarctica's stamps and the newly-created 20 Ice Mark banknote. All Proclamations of Titleage issued by the Grand Duke after 2015 bear the Lesser Arms at the top of the certificate.