Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate

This article is about the coat of arms of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz).

Overview
The state flag and the coat of arms were designed in 1947 after the new Land of Rheinland-Pfalz was formed by the authority of the French High Commissioner to Germany. The flag symbolizes the dedication of Rhineland-Palatinate to Germany (therefore the black-red-gold tricolour) as well as the democratic traditions of Germany. These colours were seen first in this combination during the Hambacher Fest, a mass demonstration by German liberals at the ruins of the Hambacher Schloss in 1832. The Palatinate is therefore connected to these colours.

The coat of arms, an integral part of the state flag, symbolises the three predominant powers in the region before the French Revolution of the late 18th century:


 * the red cross on silver represents the Archbishop and prince-elector (Kurfürst) of Trier
 * the silver wheel on red (Wheel of Mainz) represents the Archbishop and prince-elector of Mainz
 * the crowned golden lion on black represents the prince-elector of the Palatinate (see: Palatine Lion)

The Volkskrone (people's crown) consists of vine leaves and shows the importance of this crop for local agriculture.

Legal status
"§ 1 The state's colors are black-red-gold.

§ 2 The state's coat of arms has the form of a round shield. This is split by an ascending sagging peak and shows on the right side on a silver field a continuous red cross, on the left side red field a silver six spokes wheel and in the ascending black peak a redly crowned and reinforced, gold lion. The coat of arms is covered by a golden people's crown (vine leaves)...

§ 4 Decisive for the design of the state's coat of arms and the state's flag are the patterns, added to this law."

- State legislature