The current coat of arms was adopted by law number 4408, sanctioned by the Buenos Aires City Legislature in 2012.

[1] On October 20, 1580 the government of the city of La Trinidad and the port of Buen Ayre, headed by Juan de Garay, received an insignia sent to it by the crown for their approval.

[citation needed] Perhaps because of the presumed distaste of heraldry experts, the insignia was not approved until September 20, 1596, and fell out of use quite quickly.

[citation needed] On November 29, 2012, the Buenos Aires City Legislature passed a bill that modified and restored the original format of the insignia.

It is an oval with the image of the Río de la Plata, two ships symbolizing the two foundations of the City, and a white dove with its wings spread over the sky.