Heraldic Beasts?

[macwilkin]

So how do we untangle the heraldic beasts from the run of the mill totem beasts?

I've have brought up before, on the forum, my parents purchasing a fake "family crest," as well as, belonging to a youth group that had fake heraldry when I was a child; and I'm not happy about it either. Our American coins and paper money have, what sounds to be, elements of heraldry on them. Where are the lines drawn in the use of these artistic depictions, so we can at least know what not to do?

I know nothing!

Ted,

Just because the United States has no official heraldic authority (save the US military) doesn't mean that heraldry doesn't exist here:

http://www.americanheraldry.org/page...mer.Page1#toc3

I certainly do not condone "bucket shops" that sell "family crests" to unsuspecting customers, but remember that the assumption of arms isn't necessarily the same in the US as it is in a nation where there is Lyon Court, etc.

T.