Finland - state arms

Last modified: 2021-08-25 by christopher oehler
Keywords: finland | state arms | riksvapen | lion: with sword (gold) |
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by Željko Heimer
Arms since the 1580s;
date of current legislation on the coat of arms: 26 May 1978.

• About the arms

See also:

• Finland
• Karelia (Finland)
• Finland – naval jack
• Links outside FOTW:
  • http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/vaakeng.html
  • http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9496/fi-seite4.html

About the Arms

The latest drawings of the Finnish flag and the coat of arms in it were made by heraldic artist Olof Eriksson in 1968.
Ossi Raivio, 19 November 2001

The coat of arms of Finland dates back to about 1580. Its official present design is the work of Olof Eriksson (1911-87) and it was adopted when the coat of arms were codified by law on 26.5.1978 (simultaneously with the present design of the flags). The form of the lion used on the flags is the same as on the state coat of arms, so Eriksson is the person to be credited for this, not Heikki Häiväoja (b. 1929; he designed the lion as it is used on the new Euro coins and on coins minted 1964-1993). By the way, Eriksson was one of the most skillful and productive Finnish heraldists and he is famous especially for his beautiful municipal coats of arms of which he designed far more than a hundred during the 1950s and '60s.
Marco Pribilla, 19 November 2001