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Variants of the Mexican flags and coat of arms through history

Last modified: 2009-01-17 by juan manuel gabino villasc�n
Keywords: mexico | variants | coat of arms | iturbide (agustín de) | victoria (guadalupe) | eagle | crown | empire | republic | juárez (benito) | maximilian | díz (porfirio) | pe�a (tomás de la) | carranza ( |
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Variant of the 1821-flag, possible national ensign

[Variant of the Imperial Flag] [National ensign]
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, March 14, 2002

Variants used between 1823-1864/1880

Both the French interventionist Army headed by Gen. Forey and the Conservative Army entered Mexico City on June 10, 1863. Gen. Forey ordered on June 16 to form a Junta Superior de Gobierno who proclaimed the Empire, asking Archduke Maximilian of Habsbourg to take the throne. On July 13, the Junta was replaced by the Regencia del Imperio (Empire Regency), who adopted a new coat of amrs by decree of Sept. 20.

The Republican resistance (1862-1967) led by Benito Juárez García, at the time, Constitutional President of the United Mexican States, continued using the Republican flag with the most variety of versions of the coat of arms. Such a flag would be officially restored on July 15, 1867.

The April-14-1823 Decree was in effect until that of 1968 abolished it, not considering the Imperial Age (1863-1867). In the meantime, some republican governments occupied fruitlessly on determininig and unifying the correct position and other features Of the National Coat of arms, always basing on the 1823 Decree.

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, March 14, 2002.

In 1823, when Iturbide fell, the Congress decretedn that the crown hold by the eagle was to be removed, but adding a half circle of green oak (encino) and laurel branches.
Jorge Candeias, 27 Oct 1997, translating from La Bandera Mexicana website

When the country became a Republic on April 14th, 1823, the Constituent Congress changed the emblem, removing the crown and adding oak and laurel branches below. These elements have lasted until nowadays, though the eagle has changed from profile to three-quarters" and to affronty.
Santiago Dotor, 29 Dec 1998, summarizing from http://dyred.sureste.com/club/6febrero/24feb.htm

[Variant-1 of the Mexican Republic flag]
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, April 19, 2001

[Variant of the Republican flag used in Monterrey, Upper California]
Posted by Voker Keith, May 2000.
Regif by: António Mártins.

The flag is from Pacific House in Monterey, California. One of two in the collection, this particular flag was supposedly hauled down for the Mexican Customs House in Monterey after the arrival of the American fleet in 1846. It was preserved by a local family until donated to the museum.
It is not the first Mexican flag in California, but rather the last flag of Mexico in Monterey.
Although we assume that the first Mexican flag hoisted in Monterey was the flag of the First Mexican Empire, there is very little evidence that the flag in the First Mexican Empire was ever widely used in California, and there is no surviving example. In fact the use on both Spanish and Mexican flags in California seems to have been minimal, (i.e.: the Customs House as a matter of function so visiting ships would know where to pay their duties.)
Contemporary accounts indicate that neither the Spanish nor the Mexican troops garrisoning the various presidios made colors every morning, instead they hoisted them upon need, the arrival of a ship or a visit by an important official. They both seem the have used the plain "civil" flags on a day to day basis. In 1800 the Governor of California noted in correspondence with Madrid to please send more flags as they were out of flags!
This Pacific House Flag is the only known Mexican Government Flag in a collection in the United states. The others in Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are all military colors.
The flag is especially curious because it is a variant with only a sprig of olive instead of the "official" demi-wreath. Also, it like the other is in 1:3 proportions, a common proportion used by Mexico in the mid-19th venture, especially by the merchant marine.

James J. Ferrigan III, 2 May 2000

Variant used betwwen 1881-1917

[Mexican flag variant used about 1893]
by António Martins Tuválkin, March 20, 2000.

"(...) During the 1830s, the Porfirista government intended the flag as well the coat of arms on it became uniform overall the country. The changes to the coat of arms in such age were born by the Dec. 30-1880 President Decree, by means of which, Porfirio Díaz tried to materialized the original design provided by the First Constitutional Congress. (...) Tomás de la Peña was appointed to design the new coat of arms; he inclined for the French-style eagle: fronted with up-lifted wings, looking to its left (...). This coat of arms was used until 1898, since in 1899, Díaz decided for replaced it, though the Peña's design was in use until about 1908. A very important change in appreciated in the 1893 flag: the garland is made of laurel and olive branches; this is to prove, despite the effort for unifying both flag and coat of arms, the anarchy prevailed (...)"

Quoted in: Bandera de México. Presented by: Alfonso García Macías. Ed. Miguel Ángel Porrúa. 1º edition: 1985. 3º edition: 1995. México. Pp. 143

I addition to that, this coat of arms is painted jointly with coat of arms of some Mexican states of the time in the walls of a late-XIX century building located in Bucareli St. and Emilio Dondé St. in Mexico City, near the tourist "Ciudadela Park".

A verey similar coat of arms appears illustrated in brochures by the "Secretaría de Gobernación" (Secretariat of the Interior) but attributed to 1823 as used as header by the Supreme Congress. In this case the eagle is engraved, painted or drown in the early XIX century style., then in a three-quarter position, and slightly inclined.

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, June 10, 2002.