Coat of arms of Australia

Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Versions
Escutcheon-only version
Adopted	19 September 1912
Crest	The Commonwealth Star: A seven-pointed star, or (gold)
Torse	Or and azure (blue)
Shield	see below
Supporters	Dexter (left) a red kangaroo, sinister (right) an emu, both proper (natural colours)
Compartment	none, golden wattle is depicted in its place in commonly used versions
Motto	none, the name of the country is written on a scroll in commonly used versions

Commonwealth Coat of Arms 1908–1912
Adopted	7 May 1908
Relinquished	19 September 1912
Crest	Commonwealth Star
Torse	White and blue
Supporters	Red kangaroo and emu
Compartment	Grassy field proper
Motto	Advance Australia

The coat of arms of Australia, officially the Commonwealth Coat of Arms,^[1] is a formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia.^[2] It depicts a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu.^[3] The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star surmounting the crest also represents the states and territories, while golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.^[3]

The first arms were authorised by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the reverse of the sixpenny coin.