Certification of the Coat of Arms
Translation provided by: St. Augustine/St. Johns County Columbus Commission
Genealogical, Noble and Armorial Archive
of The Herald King of Arms Dean of the Corps
Don Vicente De Cadenas Y Vicent
CERTIFICATION OF THE COAT OF ARM
WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE USE OF THE
COUNTY OF SAINT JOHNS, FLORIDA (UNITED STATES)
Madrid, 12th of October of 1991
VICENTE DE CADENAS Y VICENT, DE GAZTANAGA Y NOGUES, HERALD, KING OF ARMS, DEAN OF THE CORPS OF HERALDS By virtue of the authority and powers conceded by the Royal Orders of 17th of December 1749 and 16th of June 1802, as well as by the Royal Decree of 29th of April 1915 by which the access and authority of the Heralds, Kings of Arms are regulated and by the Decree of the Ministry of Justice of 13th of April 1951 by which the Corps is structured, and ifs powers regulated, and as a consequence of these;
I CERTIFY: That on petition of the desires expressed by the authorities of Saint Johns County, in Florida (United States) which desires to perpetuate the historic memory of the population and founding of that County by the subjects of the Kings of Spain and in order that the memory should remain steadfast, the drawing up of a Blazon is solicited which for fundamental symbols of the same bring those events to mind adapting them to the Science of Blazon, and as a consequence and by virtue of the desires expressed by the already cited authorities that in its field they wish to reflect three aspects; two of them of historic character and one symbolic, taking for it (the Blazon) a castle as on allusion to the Garrison which was in the County, the Arms of Castille and Leon as a remembrance of the epoch of its discovery and union to the Crown of Spain, and a direct allusion to the name of the County referred to, and as a consequence, it stands organized and composed in the following manner;
Coat of Arms
(ORDINANCE NO. #92-2: An ordinance of the County of St. Johns, State of Florida, adopting an Official Seal of Chapter 91-59, Laws of Florida, 1991, restricting the use of the seal; providing for penalties; and providing and effective date.
Section 2. The County hereby adopts the provisions of chapter 91-59, Laws of Florida, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C. The manufacture, use, display or other employment of any facsimile or reproduction of the County Seal, except by County Officials or Employees in the performance of their official duties, without the express written approval of the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Section 775.082 or Section 775.083.)
In a field of green an Agnus Dei of silver, suspended on the dexter [*left side of the drawing] side of the Agnus Dei is a silver banner with red cross (as a direct allusion and symbol of the name of the County). On a heraldic chief of red is a gold castle with towers, with masonry joints in black, and with the windows and doors in red (in recognition of the fortress that was constructed in the military garrison of St. Augustine which is a part of the County).
An overall border is composed of eight parts; alternating, a red quadrilateral, with a gold castle and quadrilateral of silver with a purple lion rampant (that is to say, alternating the simplified Arms of Castille and Leon).
Given for a crest is a mural crown of a province. This is a circle of gold walls with in reality twelve gold towers with all the masonry joints in black. Only seven of the towers are visible in the drawing.
Said Arms as they are described and drawn may be used, having them engraved, sculpted and painted in the customary places, standing protected by this certification of Blazons, ratified, legalized and legitimized in the use of the same for Saint Johns County, in Florida (United States).
And that it may be on record wherever necessary and by petition. I announce the present Certification of Arms, retaining a copy of the present [*document] in my Minute Book, signed and sealed with my own [*signature and seal], in Madrid the 12th of October 1991, the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Pillar and the anniversary of the discovery of the Occidental Indies.
S I G N A T U R E
Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent
#16746
Seen in this Sub-Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice to be legalized, as it is apparently his own, the signature of Don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent, accredited in this Ministry as the Herald King of Arms for the drawing up of Certifications which the Decree of 13 of April of 1951 establishes.
Madrid, 21 October 1991
stamped/sealed
signed by Maria del Carmen Guijarro Gonzalez
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