Iceland 1950 Definitive - Coat of Arms

Iceland · 1950 · 10 aurar

This definitive stamp features the Icelandic coat of arms, the Skjaldarmerkið. The design prominently displays the four traditional guardian spirits (landvættir) of Iceland: the bull (Griðungur), the eagle (Gammur), the dragon (Dreki), and the giant (Bergrisi), who are said to protect the island's four quarters.

Issued in 1950, this stamp reflects Iceland's strong national identity, having become a fully independent republic just six years earlier in 1944. The use of the national coat of arms on a definitive stamp was a common way to assert sovereignty and cultural heritage.