The Coffin Coat of Arms
Heraldry has a language all its own, the significance of which none but careful students who have made it a specialty will pretend to absolute accuracy in its exposition. Briefly stated, it is the science of conventional distinctions impressed on shields or banners, and is both national and personal. The latter treats of bearings belonging to individuals either in their own or hereditary right. The Coffins have always claimed Coat Armor in hereditary right. That branch descended from Nathaniel Coffin, father of Admiral Sir Isaac, inherit the right through the Admiral’s grant, and are unquestionably entitled to wear his Coat of Arms, but this differs essentially in its emblazonment from the more ancient ones.
Authorities upon English heraldry give, as belonging to the Coffins of Devonshire, a description which, in its combination, is unlike any other family bearings, and consists of Bezants and Cross-Crosslets. While they differ as to order of arrangement and combination, the number of Bezants is never less than three nor more than four, and the Cross-Crosslets vary from five upward to a semee which is an indefinite convenient number.
The Bezants are a roundel representing the ancient gold coin of Byzantium, current in England from the tenth century to the time of Edward III., and was probably introduced into coat armor by the crusaders. The white roundel exhibited upon Admiral Sir Isaac’s Arms, is of silver, and is usually called a plate, although there were silver bezants used as coin. The Cross-Crosslets are Crosses crossed on each arm.
The Crests and Mottoes are of quite modern origin.
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