  We formulate a quantum coherent state picture for topological and
non-topological solitons. We recognize that the topological charge arises from
the infinite occupation number of zero momentum quanta flowing in one
direction. Thus, the Noether charge of microscopic constituents gives rise to a
topological charge in the macroscopic description. This fact explains the
conservation of topological charge from the basic properties of coherent
states. It also shows that no such conservation exists for non-topological
solitons, which have finite mean occupation number. Consequently, they can have
an exponentially-small but non-zero overlap with the vacuum, leading to vacuum
instability. This amplitude can be interpreted as a coherent state description
of false vacuum decay. Next we show that we can represent topological solitons
as a convolution of two sectors that carry information about topology and
energy separately, which makes their difference very transparent. Finally, we
show how interaction among the solitons can be understood from basic properties
of quantum coherent states.
