The Kyffhäuserkreis is a district in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany.

According to the local legend, the emperor did not die, but instead went to sleep in this castle.

The main symbol of the coat of arms is the lion of the counts of Schwarzburg, who historically ruled most of the district.

The lion holds a shield which contains the coat of arms of the Counts of Mansfeld, who owned the area around Artern in the 18th century.

The three green hills in the bottom symbolize the mountainous landscape with many forests, the big wavy line stands for the river Unstrut, the small one for the Wipper river.