By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
In heraldry, “arms” are symbols that refer to a nation, polity, family, or corporation. These symbols are used to express the virtues or features with which these groups want to be associated. Arms are often seen on numismatic works, including coins, medals, tokens, and paper money.
The use of arms (or coats of arms or similar symbology) on coins dates back to antiquity, as cities and city-states struck their own coinage that circulated along trade routes around the ancient world. The rules of heraldry became more formalized during the medieval period, as kings and feudal lords projected their power and influence with the use of such fierce creatures as lions, griffons, bears, snakes, and others. As mints developed better methods of producing coins, coin art improved and became more intricate. So too, did heraldic images, such as coats of arms.
From the Renaissance into the modern era, coats of arms on coins and medals expanded beyond royalty to mark significant events, show civic pride, and to honor notable figures. European heraldic traditions carried into the colonies, where European settlers designed images to represent their own communities and cultures. Coins and medals carrying crude representations of these arms remain popular with collectors today. Perhaps the most common American numismatic item to feature arms is the $1 Federal Reserve Note, which depicts the Great Seal of the United States on the back.
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