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In Russia the arms of a gubernia and a gubernia’s capital were often the same, sometimes different. It’s a well-known fact that there’s a white wild goat standing on the grass in a blue field depicted on the arms of the gubernia’s capital. For the first time it is mentioned in the “Flags and Arms Book” made up in 1729-1730 to show the arms on the flags of the regiments, which had the names of towns of their deployment. A white goat without horns standing on the grass in the blue field was depicted on the oval golden coat with the silver crown on top. Unprofessional drawing of an artillery sergant Alexander Chirkov was followed by the words: “A white wild goat”. 
Why goat? To create arms the Heraldmeister’s Office requested the necessary information from all over Russia, for instance about the fauna and the place of the region.
It is highly possible that among other peculiarities Samara mentioned in its list a wild goat was enumerated.
After 1917 the political system did not favor the use of the arms, and they have been put away for a while. Only in mid-80’s - beginning of the 90’s of the XXth century with the process of state decentralization and an increased role of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local self-government, the interest for territorial and municipal arms and flags has been revived.
On October 8, 1992, the coat of arms of Samara has been endorsed by the decision of the Minor Council of the Samara People’s Assembly of Deputies. However, at that time they did not take risks of rescuing the emperor’s crown on it. On November 26, 1998, the Samara Duma by decision № 187 adopted the present day coat of arms of Samara. It is the following: “The coat of arms of Samara is a single shield of the French form with the white wild goat standing on the grass in the sky-blue field in the center. The shield has a golden emperor’s crown on top.” This depiction corresponds to the actual coat of arms of Samara.
The shaping of the Samara arms dates back to the times of it foundation (January 1, 1851). In the 50’s of the XIXth century the Senior Officer of the Arms section in the Heraldic Department of the Senate Boris Vasilievich Kyone decided to revise Russian arms. In particular, he wanted to substitute a nanny goat with a wild billy goat. The Samara arms remained unchanged except or Kyone’s idea, which embodied into the Samara coat of arms.
This variant of the Samara arms was approved July 5 (17), 1878. This date maybe considered the birthday of the Samara Oblast arms. It ran as follows: “A silver wild billy-goat with golden horns, red eyes and tongue, and with black hoofs, is on the sky-blue shield. The shield has an emperor’s crown on top and is surrounded by golden oak-tree leaves, combined with the Anreyevsky ribbon.”
A proud silver billy-goat on a sky-blue shield instilled respect by its confidence and calm mightiness.
The image of this animal on the heraldic symbols is as old as two other “royal personae” – an eagle and a lion. Even the ancient peoples regarded a billy-goat as a leader, guide; it symbolized unshakable power. Oak-tree leaves with acorns symbolize mature, complete power. A blue Andreyevsky ribbon with the cross of the supreme Russian decoration – the Order of the Saint Apostle Andrei Pervozvanny, which was instituted by Peter I – emphasized belongingness to the Russian state.
The colors of the arms have their particular meaning according to the heraldic rules:
- Gold symbolizes wealth, power, loyalty, constancy;
- Silver (or white) symbolizes morality;
- Sky-blue symbolizes mightiness, beauty, brightness, clarity;
- Red symbolizes courage, heroism, magnanimity.
The Samara arms could be seen on the gateway to Samara, on the facades of the administrative buildings, on official documents and printed editions, on the buttons of the officials’ uniforms. After the October Revolution of 1917 the coat of arms ceased to exist.
The changes of the 80’s-90’s of the XXth century stimulated the resumption of the regional heraldic symbols.
In 1998 the Samara Oblast Administration finally raised the question of the necessity to develop regional heraldic symbols.
As a result, on September 22, 1998, the Samara Oblast Duma endorsed the by-law “On State Symbols of the Oblast”, which established the regional flag and arms. The coat of arms approved on July 5 (17), 1878, was adopted as a standard for the Samara Oblast arms. The historic symbol of Samara Oblast has been revived.
