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Even though the City of Buenos Aires, capital of the Argentine Republic, is more than 400 years old, the flag that represents it has just a 30-year history and was only adopted officially 15 years ago. However, the flag’s central emblem can be traced to the founding of the city in 1580 by the Spanish conqueror Juan de Garay, who gave the city its first coat of arms. But in its early times this emblem was barely used. This symbol at the center of the city’s flag is debated by some people that do not accept it today. They attribute incorrect meanings to it based on contemporary politics. This paper will study the origin of the flag’s coat of arms and its background before and during its creation during late 16th century. Its scarce use in that era and its replacement by a different coat of arms shortly after its creation will be analyzed. Then the paper will describe the rediscovery of this first coat of arms at the end of the 19th century, and its use in several places in the city the following years. After that, the coat of arms became the accepted symbol of the city. The design of the flag will be studied, as well as its vexillographic challenges. All the initiatives to change this flag will be reported alongside the explanations from the people who proposed them.

[IVI.CID] 70d7799b-57c7-4e99-9d5e-f5423e9426a3