- Represents Incas, the dominant Andean culture of the region before Spanish colonization
- Symbolizes divinity, light, prosperity, and power
Laurel
- Left Laurel: Symbolizes glory and victory from the glorious days of the Inca Empire.
- Right Laurel: Represents immortality, which signifies an eternal and undying Peru
Vicuna
- National animal, considered the embodiment of gentleness and purity
- Only lives on the high plateaus of the Andes, representing the Andean nature of Peru
The coat of arms beneath was created in 1825 for the new republic. Its elements are:
* A vicuña, the national animal, symbol of gentleness and purity.
* A cinchona tree, the source of the fever-reducing medicine quinine and a significant export product.
* A cornucopia spilling coins and treasure.
* A pair of crossed standards of the republican armies, with a sunburst in the background.
