Coat of arms of Benin

Coat of arms of Benin
Versions
Lesser version
Armiger	Republic of Benin
Adopted	1990 (1964)
Crest	Two cornucopias sable, ears of corn coming therefrom;
Shield	Quarterly,1, Argent, a Somba Castle Or, 2, Argent, a Star of Benin proper, 3, Argent, a Palm Tree vert charged with fruit gules, 4, Argent, a ship sable sailing on a sea azure with a sewn upon the line of quartering a lozenge gules
Supporters	Two panthers or spotted
Motto	Fraternité, Justice, Travail "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"

The coat of arms or national seal of Benin, originally introduced in 1964,^[1] was readopted in 1990 after being replaced in 1975.

At the top of the emblem is the national crest that consists of two horns with corn in the ear and filled with sand. These are reputed to stand for prosperity. Below the crest is a shield that contains the actual coat of arms of Benin.

The shield is broken into four quadrants. The top left quadrant contains a castle in the style of the Somba, representative of the history of Benin. In the top right quadrant, is the Star of Benin, the highest award of the nation. Below this is a ship, that stands for the arrival of Europeans in Benin. In the lower left quadrant is a palm tree.

The shield is supported by a pair of leopards, the national animal of Benin. Below the shield is the motto of Benin (Fraternity, Justice, Labour) in French.