[4] This shield, which can be blazoned as Gules, two staves raguly and couped argent, one in pale, surmounted by another in fess between two ducal coronets in chief Or the bottom part of the shaft enfiled with a ducal coronet of the last[3] or alternatively Gules two silver ragged staves joined in the form of a cross, its arms and foot pierced by Passion Nails; and three golden crowns, the bottom encircling the foot of the cross[5] was in use until 1915.

[3] It decided to revert the arms to the original form that were granted to Colchester by Henry V in 1413,[2][3][8] as described on Letters Patent "and also employed upon the Common Seal of the Borough, adopted at about the same date and used continuously as the borough seal for over four centuries" [9] The change was supported by the 'advice of many eminent heralds'.

[10] These early arms featured inscriptions like QUAM CRUX INSIGNIT HELENAM COLCHESTERIA GIGNET[7] and COLCESTRIENSIS SUM BURGI COMMUNE SIGILLUM.

[7] The shield can be blazoned Gules four Pieces of Wood raguly conjoined in a cross proper each side arm transfixed with a Nail palewise Sable ensigned by an Ancient Crown Or and that in base enfiling a like Crown and transfixed by a like Nail in bend.

[2] In 1976,[6] the coat of arms was extended with the addition of a crest, a torse of red and white, topped with roses of the same colours rising from which is a female figure, holding a Cross, which can be blazoned On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Chaplet of Roses alternately Gules and Argent a Female Figure habited Azure and Veiled Argent crowned Or holding a Passion Cross Or.

Mater Constani fuit et Sanctam Crucem invenit Elana (St. Helen was born in Colchester.

[11] The modern coat of arms of Colchester should not be confused with that of Nottingham, which, apart from being supported by two royal stags instead of a fisherman and Roman soldier, differs only in the absence of the nails on the cross.