What central emblem appears on the Dominican Republic flag?

The central emblem on the Dominican Republic’s flag is the country’s coat of arms.

The flag is divided into four quarters by a white cross, with blue and red sections alternating around it. At the intersection sits the national coat of arms, making the Dominican Republic’s flag especially detailed compared with a simple tricolor.

The coat of arms contains a Bible opened to John 8:32, a cross, spears, national flags, a laurel branch, and a palm frond. Blue ribbons carry the motto “Dios, Patria, Libertad,” meaning “God, Fatherland, Liberty,” while a lower red ribbon identifies the República Dominicana.

The flag was designed by Juan Pablo Duarte and first introduced during the struggle for independence from Haitian rule. A useful distinction is that the civil flag uses the same quartered colors and cross but omits the central charge, while the national flag includes the coat of arms.