Coat of arms of the Land of the Federal Republic of Germany (1) - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1992 - 100 Pfennig

The Bremen key in the coat of arms of the Free Hanseatic City is a symbol of the open-mindedness of the country and its worldwide connections, which has grown over the centuries. Nevertheless, he is of spiritual origin and goes back to the key of the Apostle Peter, patron saint of Bremen Cathedral. In 1366, the key appears on a seal for the first time. It shows the enthroned Peter, under his feet a blazon with a Gothic key: This is the oldest evidence for the coat of arms. In the late Middle Ages, there are two angels as shield holders who make way for two lions in the 16th century. At the coronation of the shield emerges from about the middle of the 16th century on an angel's head with wings, which is replaced after the attainment of imperial freedom (1646) by a five-pronged crown of princes. It appears for the first time on the coins of 1650. In the middle of the 18th century, the Bremen coat of arms with console, crown and shield holders has largely completed the development to its present form. The depiction on the special postal stamp shows the middle coat of arms, which in contrast to the big coat of arms contains only the shield with the silver key in the red box and above it the golden city crown. In the big coat of arms the key is held by outward-looking lions. The colors red and silver (or white) are those of the old empire, which are also led for example by the old imperial cities of Frankfurt, Hamburg and Lübeck in the coat of arms. The state »Free Hanseatic City of Bremen« is with 404 km2 and around 650,000 inhabitants the smallest of the federal states. It includes the two boroughs of Bremen and Bremerhaven, with the maritime city of Bremerhaven 62 km down the Weser from Bremen. (Text: Senator for Federal Affairs of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Bonn)