Coat of arms of Sunderland

The first grant of arms was made in 1947, and this was not amended in 1967 when additional territory was incorporated into the County Borough of Sunderland.

These arms were generally seen only embossed or printed in monochrome, so the usual blazon was "Argent, a sextant sable", however when used on street furniture various colours were used, often depending on what was available to the painter.

As a motto: Nil desperandum auspice Deo For crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure, on a mount Vert, in front of a long cross pommy issuant Gules the head interlaced with an orle Argent a boar passant Sable armed and langued Gules.

For supporters: On either side a lion Argent, that on the dexter side gorged with a collar gemel enclosing six mullets, three being manifest, Gules, and standing on an anchor fesswise the flukes inward Or, that on the sinister gorged with a collar gemel Sable enclosing six ears of wheat, three being manifest, proper, standing on a miner's pick fesswise the head inward Or.

As a motto: Nil desperandum auspice Deo Although the grant of 1974 was made to the Council of the Borough of Sunderland and its successors regardless of their names, elevation to city status in 1992 was celebrated with a new grant of arms, which city officials requested had "not as much white" as previous arms.