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Each administrative region in Russia designed an official coat of arms representing the qualities of that region. Displayed below are the coats of arms for Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscow's coat of arms features a dark red shield with St. George, in silver armor and an azure cloak, slaying the dragon. Moscow was in essence the capital of Muscovite Russia (1300-1700) until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg. Because of its location and river ports, Moscow was and remains an industrial and commercial center. Soviet Russia returned Russia's capital to Moscow in 1918.