The Bahamian coat of arms contains is very eye catching and vibrantly coloured, a factor of the coat of arms that is believed to attract tourists. The usage of bright colours also represents the bright future for the islands. This coat of arms features a shield that has the national symbols of the island as its focal point. The Bahamas’ national animals – the blue marlin and the flamingo – are also featured on either side of the shield.
At the top of the shield sits a conch shell which is used to represent the marine life that lives around the islands. The shield itself features the image of a ship known to be Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria.
The motto of the islands is also seen on the coat of arms, and is ‘Forward, Upward, Onward, Together’.