The coat of arms was granted to the town of Kola, as well as to other towns of Vologda Viceroyalty, by the October 13 [O.S. October 2], 1780 decree (ukase) of Catherine II "On the coat of arms of Vologda Viceroyalty". The upper part of the shield depicts a hand in the red field, stretching out from a cloud and holding a golden orb with a silver sword (a coat of arms of Vologda Viceroyalty). The lower part of the shield depicts a whale—a species in hunting of which the town residents specialize. The modern coat of arms of Kola was adopted on August 7, 1991 and mirrors the 1781 coat of arms.