The current coat of arms of Guatemala was adopted after the 1871 Liberal Revolution [es] by a decree of president Miguel García Granados. It consists of multiple symbols representing liberty and sovereignty on a bleu celeste shield. According to government specifications, the coat of arms should be depicted without the shield only when on the flag, but the version lacking the shield (→national emblem) is often used counter to these regulations. The elements of the coat of arms have the following symbolism: The Resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and represents freedom and independence of the nation. The crossed Remington rifles are the type used during the 1871 Liberal Revolution, and represent the will to defend Guatemala's interests. The crossed swords represent justice and honor. The laurel wreath represents victory. The parchment at the center reads 'Liberty 15 of September of 1821', the date Guatemala gained independence from Spain. (Source: Wikipedia.org, CC BY-SA)