The Greenwich Coat of Arms was adopted by vote
of the Representative Town Meeting (“RTM”) on
April 25, 1940. The shield is divided into quarters
designed to represent the history of the town. 

 

The windmill in the first quarter represents the
early Dutch influence. In the second quarter, a
horse's head stands for “Horseneck”, the earliest
name for central Greenwich. 

 

In the third quarter, a clamshell represents the
early shorefront trade. Finally, the fourth quarter
depicts a plow on a furrowed field, a shining sun and
a cloud emitting rain, signifying agriculture, another
important early industry.  

 

The ancient ship with sails furled and flags flying behind
two crossed anchors is from the coat of arms of Greenwich,
England, after which our town is named. The figures depicted in historic dress are shown over the Latin motto for “courage and thrift”.