Moldova's flag has a coat of arms featuring an aurochs head. The golden aurochs head appears on the shield carried by the eagle in the center of the flag's yellow stripe.
The aurochs was a large wild ancestor of modern cattle that became extinct in the 17th century. Its head is a historic symbol of Moldavia, the medieval principality whose name and heritage are linked to modern Moldova. Between the horns is an eight-pointed star, with a rose on one side and a crescent on the other.
Moldova adopted its blue, yellow, and red vertical tricolor in 1990, after the collapse of Soviet rule. The design resembles Romania's tricolor, reflecting close historical and cultural ties. That resemblance can cause confusion, especially because the aurochs also appears in Romania's national arms, but Moldova's flag is the one that displays the emblem prominently at its center.