Bonn

This page is part of the German heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
German heraldry: National arms Arms of States Arms of historical territories and states Districts (Kreiswappen) Cities and municipalities German Colonies Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Corporate heraldry Studentika Other civic heraldry Total pages in the German section : 60,737 Of which images : 40,663	Selected collector's items from Germany: Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Heraldic albums Kaffee Hag albums Wappen-Sammlung Heraldic trade cards Heraldic coasters Heraldic cigar bands German heraldic literature

BONN

State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
Urban District (Kreisfreie Stadt) : Bonn
Additions : 1904 Dottendorf, Endenich, Kessenich, Poppelsdorf; 1969 : Amt Duisdorf, Beuel, Bad Godesberg, Buschdorf, Duisdorf, Ippendorf, Lengsdorf, Lessenich, Röttgen, Holzlar, Oberkassel

Official blazon

(de) *(1971) Geteilt von Silber und Rot, oben ein durchgehendes schwarzes Balkenkreuz, unten ein hersehender schreitender goldener Löwe.
(until 1971) Geteilt von Silber und Blau, oben ein durchgehendes, silbern-schwarz geständertes Balkenkreuz, unten ein schreitender goldener Löwe.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 4 1971.

Bonn received city rights probably in the early 13^th century. The oldest seal, known since 1250, shows the patron saint, St. Cassius, depicted as a knight. The next seal, dating from the 14^th century, shows the cross of Köln and the lion. The area was part of the diocese of Köln. The lion is a symbol for the old 'Dingstuhl' or justice-place. The lion is often named 'Wölfchen' (little wolf) or 'Leopard' and is sometimes shown standing on a boar. On the ante-seals of the city only the lion is shown.

During the years the colours of the lower half of the arms have changed often. The most widely used colours were a red lion on a blue shiled, generally used from 1792-1971. But Hupp showed in the 1930s the arms with a silver field. Similarly, as can be seen from the images below, the lion has been crowned and with or without golden nails.

The arms on a coin from 1699	The arms on a medal from 1871
Seal from around 1900	Seal from around 1900
The arms on a postcard, 1900-1905	The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
The arms in the Abadie albums	Municipal tax stamp, 1950s.