Coat of arms of Romania
The coat of arms of Romania is the official emblem used on money, government buildings, passports, diplomas, and other state items. The current design was adopted on 11 July 2016. It is based on the interwar “lesser” coat of arms (1922–1947) and was redesigned to include the Steel Crown of Romania, symbolizing the country’s royal past and sovereignty.
Central image and shield
- A golden eagle with a crown is shown in front of a blue shield. The eagle holds an Orthodox cross in its beak, a sword in its right talon, and a scepter in its left talon.
- On the eagle’s chest is a shield divided into five parts, each representing a historical region:
- Wallachia: a blue field with the eagle, a sun, and a crescent.
- Moldavia: a red field with an aurochs head, plus a rose and a crescent with a star.
- Oltenia and Banat: a red field with a golden bridge and a lion holding a sword.
- Transylvania: a shield showing a black eagle, a sun, a crescent, and seven red towers.
- Dobruja: a blue field with two golden dolphins.
Colors and crown
- The shield uses the national colors red, yellow, and blue.
- In 2016, the Steel Crown of King Carol I was added above the eagle to mark Romania’s royal history.
History in brief
- The emblem’s roots go back to the 19th century union of Wallachia and Moldavia. Over time it was modified, especially after World War I when Transylvania joined the country.
- The monarchy ended in 1947, and Romania had a different, communist emblem for decades.
- The current design was adopted in 1992, and the 2016 update added the Steel Crown.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:36 (CET).