Emblem of Guatemala, with legend at top, and date at bottom.

The Emblem of Guatemala depicts two rifles and two swords crossed with a wreath of laurel. The middle will harbor a scroll of parchment with the words "Liberty 15 of September of 1821" and in the upper part a Quetzal as the symbol of national independence and autonomy. 15 September 1821 is the date of Central America's independence from Spain.

The resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and its image is found on the country's flag and coat of arms. It also lends its name to the country's currency, the Guatemalan quetzal (abbreviation GTQ).

Orchid at center. With flower's name at left, and value at right.

This orchid, also known as the monja blanca (white nun), is the national flower of the Republic of Guatemala. In 1933, Leticia M. de Southerland, president of the International Exhibition of Flowers, celebrated in Miami Beach, Florida, sent a suggestion to the government of Guatemala that the specimen known as the Lycaste skinneri alba be designated as the national flower. This suggestion was consulted by the president of the Republic, General Jorge Ubico, with various specialists, among them was Ulises Rojas and Mariano Pacheco H. and entities like the National Library and the Society of Geography and History. The Experts took into account the beauty and the rarity of the flower and agreed with the suggestion, so that on the February 11th, 1934, the presidency of the Republic issued a decree giving the monja blanca, the denomination of national flower.