Greater coat of arms of Denmark | |
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Versions | |
Armiger | Frederik X, King of Denmark (greater version) Government of Denmark (lesser (state) version) |
Adopted | First documented in the 1190s. Designated as dynastic arms 1959. Last modified 20 December 2024. |
Crest | Crown of King Christian V |
Torse | tasseled strings Or |
Shield | A shield quartered by a cross pattée argent bordured gules, first quarter Or, three lions passant in pale azure crowned and armed Or langued gules, nine lily pads gules (for Denmark); second quarter azure, a ram passant argent armed and unguled Or (for the Faroe Islands); third quarter azure, a polar bear rampant argent (for Greenland); fourth quarter Or, two lions passant in pale azure armed Or langued gules (for Schleswig). Overall an escutcheon Or two bars gules (for Oldenburg) |
Supporters | two wild men armed with clubs Proper |
Compartment | pedestal |
Motto | Latin: Magnanimi Pretium |
Order(s) | Order of the Dannebrog, and Order of the Elephant |
Other elements | The monarch places this coat of arms on a mantle gules lined with Ermine. Above the mantle is a pavilion gules again topped with the royal crown. |
The coat of arms of Denmark (Danish: Danmarks rigsvåben) has a lesser and a greater version.
The state coat of arms (rigsvåben) consists of three pale blue lions passant wearing crowns, accompanied by nine red lilypads (normally represented as heraldic hearts), all in a golden shield with the royal crown on top.
The national coat of arms of Denmark (nationalvåben — also called lille våben) is similar to the state coat of arms, but without the royal crown above the shield.
It is evolved from the coat of arms of the House of Estridsen, the dynasty which provided the kings of Denmark between 1047 and 1412. Historically, there had been no distinction between the "national" and the "royal" coat of arms. Since 1819, there has been a more complex royal coat of arms of Denmark (kongevåben) separate from the national coat of arms (rigsvåben). The current design was introduced in 2024, under Frederik X.