SHIELD OF ITALY

The current coat of Italy, officer since 1948, the initial design was made by Paolo Paschetto, winner of the public tender held between 1946 and 1947 to elect a new coat to replace the old royal arms, as he had proclaimed two Italian Republic years earlier.

This shield was approved by the Constituent Assembly of the Italian Republic on January 31, 1948 and promulgated by the president Enrico De Nicola on May 5 of that year, by Legislative Decree number 535.

It consists of a five-pointed white star with red border, the Stellone d'Italia (Star of Italy), a traditional symbol of Italy. The star is located on a toothed wheel that symbolizes the work and progress. The whole is surrounded by a wreath formed by a branch of oak or oak, as representing the strength and dignity of the Italian people, and olive in reference to the desire for peace of the nation. The two branches are joined by a red ribbon with the phrase "REPVBBLICA ITALIANA" ("Italy") written in letters blancas.1

Strictly speaking it is not a shield but an emblem, since not follow heraldic rules, although Spanish has extended the use this term to designate the national emblems of different countries, whether or not heraldic character.