This coat of arms is embossed and carved into what appears to be sandstone and was incorporated into the city hall when it was built in 1875-76. The fourth city hall to be built on the site, the previous three all succumbed to fire. Some materials from the last one, burned in 1875, were reused in the construction of the present building, one of which may have been this coat of arms sculpture.
Fredericton's coat of arms was designed by Dr. James Robb, professor of Chemistry at King's College around 1849 to the 1850s. Included is the motto:
Fredericopolis silvae filia nobilis (Fredericton noble daughter of the forest). The date, 1848, is also included. The City was officially incorporated by an act of the provincial legislature on March 30, 1848.
Coat of Arms
Fredericton's coat of arms consists of three shields: the Union Jack in the upper left shield surmounted by the crown; the Royal Arms crowned the personal flag of the reigning sovereign of Britain in the upper right shield and the irradiated cross above signifies Fredericton's status as a cathedral city; and below a fir tree symbolizes the forests of New Brunswick.
The motto is: Fredericopolis silvae filia nobilis (Fredericton noble daughter of the forest).
From the City of Fredericton
