The Bahamas are orientated in the British Ensign-System. This adverts to the connexions to Great Britain.

This has in 1864 introduced a flag-system, in which war ships show a "White Ensign" (naval flag), a white flag often with uninterrupted red George-cross with the Union Jack in the upper canton of the flag, merchant ships show a "Red Ensign" (also named "Civil Ensign" => cilvil flag, the real merchant flag), a red flag with the Union Jack in the upper canton of the flag, and governmental ships show a "Blue Ensign" (flag for using by the gouvernment => the real state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper canton of the flag. Since 1865 could ships of colonial governments show a Blue Ensign with a badge in the flying end of the flag. The respective governments should design appropriate badges. Merchant ships and seafaring persons from colonies may only then use a Red Ensign with badge, then named Cilvil Ensign too, if is allowed by the British admirality for the respective colony.

Until the independence was in use on the Bahamas the blue, British official flag (Blue Ensign) with the in 1869 introduced emblem (badge). In this badge is sourced the in 1959 introduced coat of arms of the Bahamas: On the shield a ship with the British flag on the stern, which hunts two pirate ships. The red head of the shield carryed a crown. Below the shield a golden typeface ribbon with the Latin inscription: "As the pirates were banished, the trade achieves again his prosperity".

The today's flag was officially hoisted on the 10th of July in 1973. It won in a contest. The black triangle on the mast symbolizes the unity of the people of the Bahamas. The yellow (golden) middle-stripe stands for the sand-strands of the islands, the aquamarine stripes are standing for the waters, the bahamas are situated in. In a some prosaic sentence the flag could be interpreted as follows, too: "The black symbolizes the power and might of the united people, the wedge the decision of the people of the Bahamas to use the abundant sources of the earth (yellow) and the seas (blue)?.

The Bahamas use today a Red Ensign with an uninterrupted white cross as merchant flag, and a White Ensign with an uninterrupted red cross as naval flag. Ostensible there should be a Blue Ensign as state flag.

On the 7th of december in 1971 the today's coat of arms was awarded by queen Elisabeth II. It was created by Hervis Bain and Harold A. Munnings, and it shows on silvery ground the ship of Columbus, the "Santa Maria", amid blue and silvery waves. The blue head of the shield showes a rising golden sun. The shield carrys a kings helmet with blue and golden blankets, on a golden-blue torus. Behind a bundle of palm tree leafs. Shield-holders are a swordfish and a flamingo. On the pedestal, formed by ocean waves and grass ground (wet gall), on a typeface-ribbon the motto: "Forward, upward, onward together". This slogan, created by two eleven years old pupils, won in a contest.

Text mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Flaggenlexikon.de