Initial coat of arms

The initial coats of arms or letter coats of arms are a specialty in heraldry . Here letters of the local alphabet and numbers are used as common figures . They appear frequently in Spanish and Italian coats of arms . They can be combined alone or with other heraldic elements. This form of coat of arms has been known since the 15th century. One or more letters and / or numbers are possible. In the case of numbers, the year the city was founded or the place in the coat of arms is often used. The use of the first letter of the place name is popular. But the initials of the bearer of the coat of arms are also included in the coat of arms. The letter motto is the abbreviation of the words of the coat of arms, the motto . These are counted among the gems because they are outside the actual coat of arms . The best known is the motto of Emperor Friedrich III. (1440–1493) with the abbreviation “ AEIOU ”.