Seal of Karaganda

The circle symbolizes infinity, perfection and completeness. The golden eagle on a blue background is the symbol of Saryarka. The golden eagle is a symbol of foresight, and the survey of vast spaces. The white color of the golden eagle signifies purity, sunlight and goodness.^[1]

The shanyrak symbolises peace and friendship between peoples. It also serves as the symbol of home and asylum.^[1]

Spoil tips are the symbol of the mines of Karaganda and the extraction of coal, as coal gave the opportunity for the city to develop.^[3]

For the 50th anniversary of the city of Karaganda, the city administration announced a competition to develop a series of seals. The work of graphic artist Nikolai Georgievich Rastopchin was chosen as the best. In 1984, a small edition of the anniversary badge was released.^[4]

The badge was a French shield divided into three in a column (red, white and blue) and inscribed in a rectangle. In the center of the shield is depicted a headframe with a gear, which is associated with the history of the emergence and development of the city. 1934 is the year when Karaganda received the status of a city.^[5]

In 1991, Karaganda got a new seal. The center also depicted a headframe, as well as a marmot running below. The colors of the emblem are gold and black. The author of the emblem is Tolegen Abylkasov, a member of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan.

In the emblem, the author tried to reflect the legend that in pursuit of a marmot, a local shepherd boy, Appak Baizhanov, went far into the steppe and decided to warm himself by the fire, throwing a black stone lying on the ground into the fire, which turned out to be coal. The seal existed until 2007.^[4]

In 2007, the Akimat announced a competition for the city's seal. The winner was Karaganda artist Aibek Begalin.

On July 18, 2007, the new seal was approved at a meeting of the Karaganda city maslikhat.

In 2014, a banner with the seal of Karaganda went into space and returned with the crew members of the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft.