Nordhalben

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NORDHALBEN

State : Bayern
District (Kreis) : Kronach
Additions : 1978 Heinersberg

Official blazon
German	Geteilt und oben gespalten; oben vorne in Gold ein linksgewendeter, mit einer silbernen Schräglinksleiste überdeckter, rot bewehrter schwarzer Löwe; hinten in Gold der wachsende, schwarz gekleidete Rumpf eines bärtigen Mannes mit schwarzer Zipfelmütze, an deren Spitze ein sechsstrahliger roter Stern hängt; unten in Silber auf grünem Boden nebeneinander vier grüne Laubbäume.
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Origin/meaning

The oldest seal for the city was granted on January 11, 1518 by Georg Schenk von Limburg, Bishop of Bamberg, as the city at the time was a part of the State of Bamberg.

The new seal showed a shield with in the upper half the lion of the State of Bamberg and a golden lion of Gera, for the co-ruler of the city, Heinrich von Gera-Schleiz-Lobenstein. The lower half shows some trees, probably signifying the Frankenwald forests.As in 1567 the bishops acquired the full rule over the city, bishop Veit II von Würtzburg changed the arms. The lion of Gera was replaced by a male bust taken from the arms of von Würtzburg family. Under the rule of Bishop Philipp vol Gebsattel (1599-1609) the bust was changed to a silver goat's rump, taken from his family arms (see image below from 1603 from the Bamberger Vasallentafel).

In 1636 the new seal showed again the arms from 1567. These arms remained in use until 1819 when the lion of Bamberg had to be removed. The city had become part of Bayern in 1810 and all references to the old rulers had to be removed. The new seal of 1819 thus showed in the upper half the bust, and in the base the trees. These arms were officially confirmed in 1838.

Later in the 19^th century the city returned to the use of the arms of 1567, which were shown by Hupp in the late 1800s.