The seal of Virginia is the official symbolic representation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state. The state flag of Virginia consists of the obverse of the seal against a blue background. A state flag was first adopted at the beginning of the American Civil War in April 1861, readopted in 1912, and standardized by the General Assembly in February 1950. The standing allegorical female figure of virtue is shown having vanquished tyranny, symbolized by a fallen king at her feet. She has an exposed breast in the manner of classical depictions of Amazons. The motto shown on the seal, , means "Thus always to tyrants."
It is one of six U.S. state flags (along with Florida, New York, New Jersey, Wyoming, and Idaho) with a depiction of a woman, and the only state flag in the U.S. depicting nudity.
The flag may be decorated with a white fringe along the fly edge; this is usually done when the flag is displayed indoors.
Legal description of flag The 2024 Code of Virginia, Title 1, Chapter 5, § 1-506 defines the state flag as follows:
Flag history
Unofficial flags (1833–1861) The first state flag was made in 1833 during the Nullification Crisis. It was raised on February 22 by Governor John Floyd in Richmond, and later displayed at Bellona Arsenal and other public buildings. Floyd suggested that the flag should fly during special events instead of the U.S. flag. The flag and the idea of flying it in place of the U.S. flag caused great resentment among some members of the Virginia House of Delegates who threatened to tear the flag down. In defense of the flag, other house members proclaimed that they would die for the flag. Floyd would later raise the American flag alongside the state flag to appease both sides of the house.Daily Richmond Whig & public advertiser, April 4, 1833, p.3Alexandria gazette, September 30, 1846, p.2
In June of 1845, the state commissioned a flag for a local Richmond militia. It bore a blue field with the states coat of arms in the middle, while the other side had the coat of arms of the United States.Richmond enquirer, June 17, 1845, p.2
During the Mexican-American War troops from the state carried flags with the Virginia coat of arms on them.Staunton spectator, and general advertiser, January 14, 1847, page 2Virginia free press, January 14, 1847, p.2 In September of 1846, the state ordered for 2 large state flags to be displayed at the capitol.Virginia free press, September 24, 1846, p.2 One them measured 20 x 36 feet and was similar to the American flag but with a white disc in the canton with the states coat of arms in it. The other had the same design but measured 20 x 40.Martinsburg gazette, October 1, 1846, page 3
In 1853, a state flag was made to be displayed in the New York Crystal Palace. On one side was a large star with the coat of arms and motto of the state in the middle. The other side contain 31 stars with a Bald eagle and the words "The Union." The whole thing measured 3 x 4 feet.Richmond enquirer, September 27, 1853, page 1
In 1860, 2 militia companies from the state ordered some unique American flags. Each flag was constructed in Baltimore and featured the states coat of arms on its field.The day book, February 22, 1860, p.2 The design was later used by pro-union militias during the American Civil War.The national Republican, March 26, 1861, p.3
During President Lincoln's inauguration, delegates from the state carried with them an American flag with the word "Virginia" on it.The national Republican, March 5, 1861, p.3
Official flag (1861–1865) The flag was not officially adopted until April 30, 1861, nearly two weeks after Virginia seceded from the Union, making it the flag of what secessionists regarded as a sovereign Commonwealth during its alignment with the Confederate States of America.
Unofficial flags (1865-1912) In 1869, during a reception in Richmond for governor-elect Gilbert C. Walker, a large procession honored him with both the national flag and a state flag displayed on his carriage and during his speech.The evening Argus, July 9, 1869, p.1
Sources suggest that the flag gradually faded from official use after the Civil war as, in 1873, a bill was introduced in the House of Delegates to re-establish the state flag as adopted in 1861.Alexandria gazette, February 6, 1873, p.2
In May of 1890, a large ball was being held at the local threader in the city of Richmond. The central area was decorated with fabric and shields bearing the coat of arms of 11 southern states. While in the back of the threader there were 2 white flags, with one of them containing the coat of arms of Virginia in the center.Richmond dispatch, May 28, 1890, p.1
In 1893 city of Trenton, New Jersey celebrated the unveiling of the Trenton Battle Monument. In the New Jersey state house hung state flags from the original 13 colonies. The Virginia's flag had a silk white field with the coat of arms embroidered in the middle. The flag was constructed by a group of women from the state for the event.The Jersey City news, October 19, 1893, p.1
During the 1907 Jamestown Exposition the Governor's flag was flown over the Virginia building.The semi-weekly messenger, September 21, 1906 The design of the banner was never described.
In 1909 the American Consul-General in Shanghai, China requested Adjutant-General Anderson for a state flag, to be use by the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. It was later sent to them and was described as being of the regulation size and color, with the Virginia coat of arms in the center.The times dispatch, March 11, 1909
Official flag (1912-present) The current flag of Virginia was adopted on March 28, 1912. The current flag was designed to be similar to the Civil War state flag. When the state seal was standardized on February 1, 1950, the flag was also updated to reflect the standardization.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial, Canadian provincial and Canadian territorial flags. The survey ranked the Virginia flag 54th out of 72.
Controversies The flag of Virginia has faced occasional controversy for its design. In 2010, then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli gave his staff lapel pins depicting an older version of the flag that lacked the exposed breast of Virtus. Similarly, in 2025, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in Texas banned students from reading about the state of Virginia due to the exposed female breast depicted on the flag.
In 2024, Eugene Vindman, a Democratic politician, posed for a photograph with the Virginia state flag that was used during the American Civil War in the 1860s. After learning of his mistake, Vindman argued that Virginia should redesign its flag, as he believed that the Civil War flag and the current flag were too similar and easily confused.
Legal description of seal
The Seal of Virginia is officially described in the Code of Virginia (1950), §1-500, as follows:
Under Virginia state law, the secretary of the Commonwealth is also the Keeper of the Seals of the Commonwealth.
Symbolism Obverse
The obverse of the seal is the official seal of Virginia and is used on all the official papers and documents of the Commonwealth's government, as well as on its flag. On this side, a female figure personifying the Roman virtue of was selected to represent the genius of the new Commonwealth. Virginia's Virtus is a figure of peace, standing in a pose which indicates a battle already won. She rests on her long spear, its point turned downward to the ground. Her other weapon, a parazonium, is sheathed; it is the sword of authority rather than that of combat. Virtus is typically shown with a bare left breast; this is the only use of nudity among the seals of the U.S. states.
Tyranny lies supine beneath the foot of Virtus, symbolizing Great Britain's defeat by Virginia. The royal crown which has fallen to the ground beside him symbolizes the new republic's release from the monarchical control of Great Britain; Maryland, Virginia and New York are the only U.S. states with a flag or seal displaying a crown. The broken chain in Tyranny's left hand represents Virginia's freedom from Britain's restriction of colonial trade and westward expansion. The useless whip in his right hand signifies Virginia's relief from the torturing whip of acts of punishment such as the Intolerable Acts. His robe is purple, a reference to Julius Caesar and the Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus.
The motto selected for the obverse of the Virginia seal is Sic semper tyrannis, or in English, Thus always to tyrants. This is a derived quote from the famous event in Roman history, attributed to Brutus upon his participation in the slaying of Caesar. (Caesar had been named perpetual dictator of Rome in the same year, and some senators believed he had ambitions to abolish the Roman Republic and establish himself as a monarch.)
A joke referencing the image on the seal that dates as far back as the Civil War, is that "Sic semper tyrannis" actually means "Get your foot off my neck."
In 2010, Ken Cuccinelli, attorney general of Virginia, gave his staff lapel pins with Virtus's bosom covered by an armored breastplate. His spokesman, Brian Gottstein, said the pin was paid for by Cuccinelli's political action committee, not with taxpayer funds.
Reverse The reverse of the seal pictures the blessings of freedom and peace, as represented by three Roman goddesses. In the center is the matron Libertas, the goddess of individual liberties. In her hand she holds a wand showing her magical gifts, and at the top of the wand hangs a Phrygian cap—also called a liberty cap—later made popular by French revolutionaries.
To the left of Libertas stands Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. In her left hand is a horn of plenty overflowing with the abundance of Virginia's harvests, while in her right hand is an enormous stalk of wheat, representing one of Virginia's leading crops.
Aeternitas, representing Virginia's eternity, stands at the right of Libertas. In her right hand is a golden ball, an emblem of authority, and atop the ball is a phoenix, symbolizing immortality. On the Virginia seal, the phoenix represents effective government.
The motto gracing the reverse with its trio of Libertas, Ceres, and Aeternitas is Perseverando, or in English, Persevering, a reminder to future generations of the need to persist in maintaining the blessings of liberty. The ornamental border on both sides of the seal consists of sprigs of Parthenocissus quinquefolia, or commonly, Virginia creeper. In 1930 another committee was charged with standardizing the seal's design because of all the variations that came into use over the years. The seals that now adorn the doors of the Southern Portico of the Capitol in Richmond were designed by Charles Keck. What the committee approved was basically adopting the 1776 seal as the standard. In 1949, another standard was implemented, when Virginia's Art Commission defined the official color scheme for the seal.
The Great Seal and the lesser seal are the same except for size. The lesser seal is used on commissions of commonwealth officials and notaries, and on other papers which remain within the boundaries of, or relate only to, Virginia.
Seal history In May 1776 the Virginian colony declared its independence from Great Britain. On July 1, 1776, a committee of four was appointed to make a proper seal for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The four men were Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, George Wythe, and Robert Carter Nicholas Sr. Four days later, the committee's report for a design of the seal was read, and Mason presented it to the Virginia government. It was voted on and approved that same day. It is not known for certain which members of the committee were chiefly responsible for the design of the seal, but it is generally believed to be principally the work of Wythe.