A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon, surcoat, or tabard, originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, wh
Coats of Arms in the Dering Roll, an English armorial from the 13th century
Brabant Lion held by Floris de Merode during the funeral of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, print after design by Jacob Franquart
The German Hyghalmen Roll, c. late 15th century, illustrates the German practice of thematic repetition from the arms in the crest
Arms of the Duke of Richmond c. 1780
Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display, study and transmission of armorial bearings. A full heraldic achievement may include a coat of arms on a shield, helmet and crest, together wi
Reverse of the Narmer Palette, circa 3100 BC. The top row depicts four men carrying standards. Directly above them is a serekh containing the name of the king, Narmer.
Fresco depicting a shield of a type common in Mycenaean Greece.
Vase with Greek soldiers in armour, ca. 550 BC.