Bust of General Mella facing surrounded by the inscription Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. Date below.

Matías Ramón Mella (1816–1864), is regarded as a national hero in the Dominican Republic. He contributed significantly during 1844 Dominican War of Independence against Haiti. Mella and his followers marched up to Santo Domingo, captured the eastern part of the island, and formally declared its independence from Haiti and the proclamation of the Dominican Republic in February 1844.

Value at left of national arms.

The coat of arms of the Dominican Republic features a shield, supported by a bay laurel branch (left) and a palm frond (right); above the shield, a ribbon displays the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Homeland, Liberty). Below the shield, the words República Dominicana appear on a ribbon. In the center of the shield, flanked by six spears (three on each side), the front four holding the national flag, is a Catholic Bible with a small cross above it.

The constitution dictates that the Bible be opened to the book of the New Testament, John 8:32, which reads "conocerán la verdad, y la verdad los hará libres", literal translation: "know the truth and the truth will set you free".