Victor Nordquist

Heraldry, phaleristics, orders, and more…

Category: Heraldry

  • Lost integrity – Trump’s stolen coat of arms

    Lost integrity – Trump’s stolen coat of arms

    Did you know that Donald Trump has a coat of arms? On Reddit’s r/heraldry, an image of Donald Trump’s challenge coin recently surfaced. Firstly, what is a challenge coin? Traditionally, challenge coins have been used to prove membership, boost morale, and recognize special achievements. Historically, they were presented by commanders for notable accomplishments or exchanged during visits to an organization. As Commander in Chief, the President of the United States participates in this somewhat unique custom—exchanging a special challenge coin to a soldier through a “secret handshake”, a moment captured in the featured image below.

    Trump’s challenge coin. From Reddit.

    Joseph Edward Davies’ coat of arms

    Anyhow, Trump’s challenge coin features the seal of the president of the United States on one side, and Trump’s appropriated – or usurped – coat of arms on the other side. But why appropriated? As the BBC has previously reported on in an article aptly named “Right to bear arms?”, the Trump coat of arms closely mirrors one originally granted by the College of Arms in London to Joseph Edward Davies in 1939. Davies was an American diplomat of Welsh decent and third husband to socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post—who built the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida now owned by Trump.

    It was presumably after his purchase of Mar-a-Lago in the 80’s where Trump first saw the coat of arms. Trump has since appropriated it as his personal emblem and for use by the Trump Organisation. While the original featured the motto “Integritas”, the Trump coat of arms simply displays the name “Trump”. Lost integrity? Unfortunately, it is strikingly on brand.

    Trump’s appropriated arms. From Wikimedia Commons.
    The arms of Davies. From Wikimedia Commons.

    The apparent arms theft was noticed by Davies’ grandson, former U.S. Senator for Maryland, Joseph Tydings, during a visit to the Mar-a-Lago estate. Tydings told the press at the time that Davies had not given the Trump Organization permission to use the coat of arms. However, due to the U.S.’s less stringent heraldry laws, no legal action was taken. Tydings has since spoken out, remarking that his grandfather “would be turning in his grave”.

    Problems in Europe

    However, Trump’s blatant “borrowing” did actually caught the attention of the Lord Lyon King of Arms when he later attempted to use it to brand a new golf course in Scotland. Scottish officials observed that Trump had not registered the arms with the Court of the Lord Lyon, the public body responsible for all matters relating to Scottish heraldry.

    Additionally, an application sent to the College of Arms, the authority for the rest of the United Kingdom, was also rejected after the college pointed out that the design had been copied from an existing coat of arms. The motto – changed from “Integritas” to “Trump” – does not technically form part of the arms, making the two identical in the eyes of the authorities. The change in the colors was also deemed insufficient. Ultimately, the Trump Organization modified the design it had taken from Davies and was granted the arms below by the Lord Lyon.

    The modified arms for Trump’s golf course in Scotland. From Wikimedia Commons.

    Meanwhile, in the U.S., Trump simply trademarked the original Davies family design and prominently displays it across golf resorts, various merchandise, bits and pieces – now including his challenge coin.

    Many U.S. presidents have had personal coats of arms, often through inheritance, assumption, or grants from heraldic authorities of foreign countries. For example, Eisenhower received his coat of arms in Denmark after being made a Knight of the Order of the Elephant. A full list can be found here.

  • “When in Europe – don’t miss Skurup”

    “When in Europe – don’t miss Skurup”

    The coat of arms of Swedish municipality Skurup was replaced by a logotype in 2007. In 2025 the logotype was once again replaced by another logotype.

    The municipality of Skurup was formed in 1971 when the market town of Skurup was merged with Rydsgård and Vemmenhög.

    The proposal for the municipality’s coat of arms was created by the artist Östen Nilsson in collaboration with The Swedish National Archives. The decision on the matter was made in 1986 by then National Archivist Sven Lundkvist after a presentation by the State Herald Clara Nevéus.

    Blazon: Argent, a German maple tree vert, beneath three roundels vert arranged one and two (in Swedish: I fält av silver en grön tysk lönn, nedan åtföljd av tre gröna rundlar ställda en och två).

    The colors of the municipal coat of arms and the three roundels are taken from the Vemmenhög Hundred’s coat of arms, known from the 17th century. The roundels likely refer to ancient graves in this area. The German maple tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) resembles the tree on Zimmermans backe, a nature reserve and a well-known viewpoint in the municipality.

    The coat of arms of Skurup municipality from 1986. From Wikipedia.

    From coat of arms to logotype

    Back in 2007, Skurup replaced the coat of arms with a new logotype, featuring Nils Holgersson from The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf – the first woman to receive the Noble Prize in Literature. In the book, Nils begins his adventure in Västra Vemmenhög, today part of Skurup. The logotype was introduced already in 2001, as part of a new marketing concept to “make the municipality visible and attractive”. In the logotype, designed in the form of a window, Nils Holgersson is placed as the central figure, flying on his goose with the green plains in the foreground. In the background, the sea, sky, and sun are visible.

    The logotype of Skurup municipality, created in 2001. From the previous branding hand-book of Skurup.

    Change of logotype – again

    Since the summer of 2023, the municipality has been working once again on replacing its municipal trademark. There were several reasons for this decision, one of which was that the municipality felt its self-image no longer aligned with the portrayal in Selma Lagerlöf’s book about Nils Holgersson’s adventure.

    “It’s a children’s book, and we are an expanding municipality with a lot of new residents; it doesn’t quite match how we want to present ourselves to the outside world,” the municipality’s head of communication said back in 2023.

    On January 21, 2025, the new logotype was finally revealed. While Nils Holgersson has been removed, the goose remains a prominent feature. The choice of the goose is particularly notable, as Skurup municipality is known for its own “municipal bird” – the rook. Additionally, despite already having a coat of arms, the new logotype is designed in the shape of a coat of arms.

    The new logotype from 2025. From the Skurup municipality website.

    Critics of the new logotype argue that the municipality should preserve its connection to the classic children’s book. However, Johan Bolinder, the chairman of the municipal board, says in an interview with Swedish public service television that it is time for the municipality to stand on its own.

    So, why not use the existing coat of arms instead? The decision to change the 2001 logotype instead of simply using the existing coat of arms is beyond my understanding, especially since the coat of arms could have been adapted into the same minimalist style.

    In recent years, we’ve seen both positive and negative examples of how municipalities handle their coats of arms. Uppsala municipality made a major misstep by disastrously altering its coat of arms, effectively transforming it into Linköping’s, while Arboga municipality handled theirs flawlessly.

    As a side note, the municipality is also home to one of the most unique municipal slogans in Sweden, which inspired the title of this post: “When in Europe, don’t miss Skurup.”

    Sources:

    https://www.skurup.se/download/18.61a1602c18afe90760a12f4/1696587148208/Grafisk-profil_2021_09-WCAG.pdf

    https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/klubbat-nu-sager-skurup-farval-till-nils-holgersson-bedrovligt

    https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skurupsloggan-ska-andras-inte-var-identitet-langre

  • Trinidad & Tobago re-designs coat of arms to remove ships of Columbus

    Trinidad & Tobago re-designs coat of arms to remove ships of Columbus

    Trinidad and Tobago has officially unveiled a redesigned version of its national coat of arms, making a significant departure from its historical depiction. The updated design removes the ships that were once associated with Christopher Columbus.

    The original coat of arms, adopted in 1962 following the country’s independence, prominently featured three ships – Santa Maria, La Pinta, and La Nina – a nod to Columbus’ 1498 landing on the islands. The ships symbolized the European discovery of the islands, a legacy that many Trinidadians and Tobagonians recently have begun viewing as a painful reminder of colonization and the negative impacts on indigenous populations.

    Photo: The old design featuring the three ships of Columbus.

    In August 2024, Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced at the annual convention of the People’s National Movement that his government planned to remove Christopher Columbus’s sailing ships from the coat of arms and replace them with the steelpan drum, the national musical instrument. A bill to do so was passed in the House of Representatives and Senate in January 2025, and received assent from the President of Trinidad and Tobago on 29 January. Gillian Bishop was tasked with the new design, which was unveiled on 19 January 2025. On 21 February 2025 the proclamation was issued giving effect to the new design, which came into use from 25 February 2025.

    Photo: The new design featuring the steelpan.

    The crest depicts a ship’s wheel in front of a palm tree. This palm tree had always been the central figure on the Great Seals of British Colonial Tobago. The escutcheon is divided by a chevron and is comprised of the same colours as the nation’s flag – red, black and white – symbolizing fire, earth, and water. The two birds on the shield are hummingbirds. Trinidad is sometimes referred to as the “Land of the Hummingbird”. A gold steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, with two pan sticks are featured below the birds. Supporting the shield are the scarlet ibis, the national bird of Trinidad, and the cocrico, the national bird of Tobago. The compartment depicts two islands arising from the sea. Below the scarlet ibis are three hills, representing the Trinity Hills in Trinidad, which, according to legend, convinced Columbus to name the island “La Isla de la Trinidad” after the Holy Trinity. The island rising out of the waters beneath the cocrico represents Tobago. Below is the nation’s motto, “Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve.”

    Sources: Trinidad Express, Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Life in Trinidad & Tobago, The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

  • New royal coat of arms ends 600 year old conflict

    New royal coat of arms ends 600 year old conflict

    On December 20, 2024, King Frederik X of Denmark issued a royal resolution establishing a new royal coat of arms. This updated design builds on the coat of arms created by his mother the Queen in 1972, with the new King aiming to craft a more contemporary symbol that honors both the heritage of the Realm and the rich traditions of heraldry. Yesterday, on January 1, 2025, the new coat of arms was officially published to the public, marking the beginning of its use in official and ceremonial contexts.

    The royal coat of arms serves as both The King’s personal emblem and a national symbol of the state. Its origins trace back to the reign of Canute IV, whose great seal from around 1194 is the earliest known representation. Since then, the royal coat of arms has evolved in various forms, consistently symbolizing the legitimacy and sovereignty of both the monarch and the state. Today, it is prominently used on official documents and seals, including those stamped on royal appointments and original laws.

    The changes to the coat of arms maintain continuity with the previous design, established in 1972, but also introduce significant alterations. The most notable of these is the incorporation of separate fields for Greenland and the Faroe Islands, reflecting the territories’ distinct identities within the Danish Realm. The escutcheon is divided into quarters by the Dannebrog Cross. The first quarter features the coat of arms of Denmark, originally the arms of the House of Estridsen. It consists of three blue, crowned lions surrounded by nine red hearts on a gold field. The second quarter displays the arms of the Faroe Islands, a ram on a blue field, and the third quarter presents the arms of Greenland, a polar bear on a blue field. The royal household states in a press release that by giving the Faroe Islands and Greenland their own distinct fields, the new coat of arms “strengthens the prominence of the Realm.”

    The new design marks the end of a 600-year tradition by removing the three crowns. Originally, the three crowns were the national symbol of Sweden, dating back to the 1300s and the reign of King Magnus Eriksson, who ruled over Sweden, Norway, and Skåne. The emblem represented this union. Later, in 1397, it became a symbol of the Kalmar Union, which united Sweden, Denmark, and Norway under a single monarch. However, when Sweden left the union in 1523, both the Swedish and Danish kings claimed the right to the three crowns—Sweden as a symbol of its own sovereignty and Denmark as a reminder of the Kalmar Union. This disagreement led to wars, including the Northern Seven Years’ War (1563–1570). It wasn’t until the peace negotiations following the Kalmar War in 1613 that the two countries reached an agreement: both monarchies would retain the right to use the three crowns, and further conflict over the symbol would cease. For the next 400 years, every Danish monarch exercised this right – until now, that is. In the same press release mentioned above, the Royal House of Denmark writes that “the symbol of the three crowns has been removed from the coat of arms, as it no longer has a current character and is therefore not considered as relevant”.

    Photo: Kongehuset ©

    The fourth quarter of the coat of arms now includes the two lions of Southern Jutland (Schleswig), acknowledging the historical ties between Denmark and the duchy of Schleswig. This addition pays homage to the legacy of Denmark’s former possessions in the southern Jutland region.

    The Dannebrog Cross, which divides the four fields, is now featured with its original outwardly curved design, as it appeared in earlier heraldic depictions. The revised coat of arms also includes a dynastic inescutcheon, bearing the two bars of the House of Oldenburg, reflecting the royal family’s dynastic lineage. The arms are surrounded by the collars of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of Dannebrog, while two heraldic supporters—”savages” standing under an ermine-lined pavilion topped with the royal Danish crown—accompany the shield.

    The new royal coat of arms was designed and drawn by Royal Herald Painter Ronny Skov Andersen. Personally, I wholeheartedly applaud the dedication and efforts of everyone involved in designing and updating the royal coat of arms. Their attention to detail and heraldic tradition have truly brought this symbol into a new era.

    Read the press release from the Royal House of Denmark (in English): Kongehuset

  • The Seraphim Toll for Princess Birgitta of Sweden

    The Seraphim Toll for Princess Birgitta of Sweden

    On Sunday, December 15, 2024, a Seraphim Toll was held at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm to honor Her Royal Highness Princess Birgitta, who passed away on December 4, 2024, at the age of 87.

    The Order of the Seraphim is conferred upon members of the Swedish Royal House and, by recommendation of the government, upon heads of state or individuals of equivalent status in connection with state visits.

    Princess Birgitta was appointed as a Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim on March 22, 1952. As part of the tradition of the Order, when a Knight or Member is conferred the honor, a heraldic coat of arms – a seraphim shield – is proposed and subsequently painted by the Chapter of the Orders.

    Since the beginning of the 19th century, Riddarholmen Church has been the designated church of the Order of the Seraphim. The seraphim shields of deceased knights and members are displayed in the church, while shields of living knights and members are kept at the Royal Palace.

    On the day of the funeral, the coat of arms of the deceased is solemnly transferred from the Royal Palace to Riddarholmen Church. The Seraphim Toll (Swedish: Serafimerringning), as this tradition is known, takes place between noon and 1 p.m., during which the great bell of the church tolls continuously for one hour, in reverence of the life and service of the departed.

    Photo: Alexandru Baboş Albabos, Wikimedia Commons

    Source: Royal Orders of Knighthood