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National Arms of Kiribati
NATIONAL ARMS OF KIRIBATI
The coat of arms of Kiribati is nearly the same that the one given to Gilbert & Ellice Islands Colony in 1937 (£25 were paid by the Colony for that!), image shown below.
The motto on the old arms is written both in Gilbertese and Tuvaluan (the polynesian language of Ellice Islands, now Tuvalu). When the Ellice Islands became independent, the Gilberts kept the same coat of arms with a new motto (only in Gilbertese): 'Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa' meas 'Health, Peace and Prosperity' with 'Mauri' used as main greetings (like Hello).
The Gilberts became independent as Kiribati on 12 July 1979 and the arms were adopted as national arms at the same day.
The arms show a yellow frigatebird over a rising sun on a red background. The frigate bird is a common animal on the islands. The base shows the Pacific Ocean with three silver stripes for each of the island groups.
The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (former Ocean Island).
 The arms on a coin |
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