Many Russian cities and regions are fighting to make their main heraldic symbol the oldest. The coat of arms of Penza, perhaps, does not occupy the first position, but among the leaders, it was approved by the highest decree in May 1781.
Even if nothing was known about the date of approval of the first coat of arms, any expert in the field of heraldry, throwing only one glance at a color photo or even a black and white illustration, would note the considerable age of the Penza official symbol.
Description of the modern symbol
Today's coat of arms of Penza is identical to the first historical symbol that appeared back in 1781. Two primary colors were used: rich emerald for the background of the shield; gold color and its shades for coat of arms.
The central place on the Penza coat of arms is given to three sheaves of ears, placed vertically on the base, depicted in the form of a golden earth. An attentive viewer will immediately notice that the sheaves have the same thickness, the same height, but differ from each other.
The main difference lies in the ears. It will be quite difficult for a person far from agriculture to identify these cereals. Most likely, he will be able to isolate a sheaf of wheat according to the characteristic pattern of an ear, but the other two sheaves may remain a mystery.
Meanwhile, these cereals also belong to the traditional agricultural crops of central Russia. In the center is a sheaf of barley, on the right is millet. All three sheaves are shown in gold color, which, firstly, is identical to the color of ripe ears, emphasizing that the harvest was harvested on time. Secondly, traditionally in heraldry, the golden color is associated with material and spiritual wealth, with prosperity.
From the history of the Penza symbol
As in many other cases, for the first time the image of three sheaves standing on the ground appeared on the military banner of the famous Penza regiment. Then there were such interpretations of flowers: gold - the color of wealth, prosperity, justice, emerald - hope, abundance, joy.
Francis Santi, an Italian count, at the request of representatives of the Russian imperial court, made the emblems of many of the country's army regiments. In 1730 he also designed the so-called coat of arms, which included all the images and descriptions.
The official approval of the heraldic symbol of the city took place fifty years later. Grateful descendants, modern residents of Penza, know to whom they owe the appearance of the coat of arms - this is Catherine II.
