eight-pointed Cross representing the connection with the Order of St. John as well as courage and determination. The ribbon under the shield has the motto (by Valour and Firmness). Nowadays, this motto is used by the National Order of Merit. A version with a statant guardant lion on the St Edward's Crown instead of the mural crown was also used, and this served as the coat of arms of the Governor-General of Malta. Emblem between 1975 and 1988 This emblem was adopted on the 11 July 1975, seven months after Malta became a republic. It showed a coastal scene with the rising sun, a traditional Maltese boat, a shovel and a pitchfork, and an Opuntia. All of these symbols are somewhat connected to Malta. Underneath the image the then-new name of the state (Republic of Malta) was written. The Maltese Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff, had wanted to change the 1964 coat of arms since he mistook the mural crown as representing royalty and therefore had no place on republican Malta's coat of arms. Mintoff chose a class of art students taught by Esprit Barthet to create a design to be used on the covers of passports, and a design by Edward Abela was chosen. A final design was agreed upon and the new passports were printed and the design was officially adopted as the emblem of Malta. The emblem was controversial since it was not heraldic, and it was replaced by the current coat of arms soon after the Nationalists won the 1987 election. It was proposed that the 1964 coat of arms be readopted, but eventually a simplified version of it was chosen. The new coat of arms was designed by Adrian Strickland, who prepared preliminary sketches, and Robert Calì, who finished the design. See also Flag of Malta History of Malta Culture of Malta Politics of Malta Maltese heraldry References External links Cap. 253 - Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act Malta National symbols of Malta Malta Malta Malta Saint George and the Dragon