Who's the woman in the scarf?

FrankH

I....think... I used to have a link that described designs on world coins. Sure can't find it now.

This is the lady in question:

Also would like to know who those cannons are aimed at.

Thanks in advance.

Greenstang

I may be wrong but I don't think it is anyone in particular. It is just a Haitin Lady in a scarf.
The cannons are facing out to sea.

Sapyx

I would assume the woman is a personification of the Republic of Haiti itself; the Haitian counterpart of Liberty, or of the French Marianne (personification of liberty and reason).

The national symbol of Haiti - it's not technically a "coat of arms" since it lacks the shield etc of s traditionally styled heraldic arms - has been in use (with interruptions) since 1807. According to Wikipedia:

The symbol shows several national flags, with two cannons and palm trees. The symbol indicates the battle for independence of the republic.

The Haitians had to fight off not just the French former colonial power, but all the other European powers who saw Haiti as "not a real country" and thus as potential Terra Nullius to be annexed. France recognized their independence in 1838, but the rest of the world didn't start doing so until the 1860s.