View source for Flag and seal of Virginia

{{short description|U.S. state flag and seal}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox flag
 | Name = Commonwealth of Virginia
 | Image = Flag of Virginia.svg
 | Nickname = 
 | Use = 110000
 | Symbol = {{FIAV|110000}}{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|Mirror}}
 | Adoption = {{Start date and age|1912|03|28}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mo5MAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA346|title=Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the Governor and General Assembly of Virginia|first=Virginia Secretary of the|last=Commonwealth|date=13 December 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> (standardized February 1, 1950)<ref name=1-506>{{cite web|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/1-506/ |via=Virginia Law |title=§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth.|work=[[Code of Virginia]]|date=February 1, 1950|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia|quote=The flag of the Commonwealth shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there may be a white fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of the Commonwealth. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-32; 2005, c. 839.)|access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref>{{refn|The very first Virginia state flag was adopted in 1861. It featured a similar design to the current flag.<!--January 31, 1861-->|group=N}}
 | Design = The obverse of the state seal on an azure field
 | Designer = 
|Proportion=2:3}}
{{Infobox coat of arms
 | name             = Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
 | image            = Seal of Virginia.svg
 | image_width      = 200
 | caption          = The seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
 | middle_width     = 195
 | image2           = File:AmCyc Virginia - seal (reverse).jpg
 | image2_width     = 200
 | image2_caption   = The reverse side of the seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
 | armiger          = [[Virginia|Commonwealth of Virginia]]
 | year_adopted     = March 28, 1912 (standardized February 1, 1950)<ref name=1-500>{{cite web|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/1-500/|title=§ 1-500. The great seal.|work=[[Code of Virginia]]|date=February 1, 1950|author=Commonwealth of Virginia|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia|location=Virginia|quote=The great seal of the Commonwealth shall consist of two metallic discs, two and one-fourth inches in diameter, with an ornamental border one fourth of an inch wide, with such words and figures engraved as follows: On the obverse, Virtus, the [[genius (mythology)|genius]] of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or parazonium, pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word "Virginia," and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." On the reverse, shall be placed a group consisting of Libertas, holding a wand and pileus in her right hand; on her right, Aeternitas, with a globe and phoenix in her right hand; on the left of Libertas, Ceres, with a cornucopia in her left hand, and an ear of wheat in her right; over this device, in a curved line, the word "Perseverando." (Code 1950, § 7-26; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-26; 2005, c. 839.)|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
 | motto            = Sic Semper Tyrannis
 | designer         = [[Charles Keck]]<ref name=SixHour>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322234623/http://www.6hourday.org/seal.html |date=June 2, 2005 |publisher=6 Hour Day |title=The Great Seal of Virginia at the Capitol of Virginia |access-date=March 22, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=CenturyArchives>{{cite web|url=http://www.centuryarchives.org/stamps/documents/Keck.pdf |title=Charles Kek: Sculptor (1871–1951) |publisher=Century Archives |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207210747/http://www.centuryarchives.org/stamps/documents/Keck.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

The '''Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia''' is the official seal of the [[Virginia|Commonwealth of Virginia]], a [[U.S. state]]. The '''state flag of Virginia''' consists of the obverse of the seal against a blue background. A [[Flags of the U.S. states|state flag]] was first adopted at the beginning of the [[American Civil War]] in April 1861, readopted in 1912,<ref name="auto"/> and standardized by the [[Virginia General Assembly|General Assembly]] in February 1950.<ref name=1-506/> 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, ''[[Sic semper tyrannis]]'', means "Thus always to tyrants." 

It is one of six US state flags (along with [[Flag of Florida|Florida]], [[Coat of arms of New York|New York]], [[Coat of arms and flag of New Jersey|New Jersey]], [[Seal of Wyoming|Wyoming]], and [[Flag and seal of Idaho|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.<ref name=FOTW>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/us-va.html|title=Virginia (U.S.)|date=August 8, 2017|work=Flags of the World|last=Wyatt|first=Rick|access-date=September 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=3X5 Indoor VA Flag (Parade) with Fringe, Tassel |url=https://store.dgs.virginia.gov/Store/Detail/3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130164029/https://store.dgs.virginia.gov/Store/Detail/3 |archive-date=Jan 30, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2015 |work=Store: Department of General Services |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia |quote=}}</ref>

==Flag history==
{{Gallery|align=center|height=180|width=240
|Flag of Virginia (1861–1865).svg|The Virginia state flag that was used during the Civil War in the 1860s.<ref name=FOTW/><ref name="NState">{{cite web |author= |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Virginia State Flag |url=http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/va_flag.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230082900/http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/va_flag.htm |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=December 30, 2014 |work=NetState}}</ref><ref name=FlagOrdinance>{{cite book|title=An ORDINANCE to establish a Flag for this Commonwealth|series=Ordinance No. 33|date=April 30, 1861|location=Virginia|author=Virginia Convention}}</ref>
|Flag of Virginia (1931–1950).png|The Virginia flag from the 1930s before standardization of the seal.
}}

The first state flag was made in 1833 during the [[Nullification crisis|Nullification Crisis]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |date=1871-12-29 |title=The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, December 29, 1871, Image 2 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024738/1871-12-29/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1756&sort=relevance&rows=20&words=banner+flag+State&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=15&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=state+flag+banner&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=6 |access-date=2025-05-13 |issn=2157-1260}}</ref> It was raised on February 22 by Governor [[John Floyd (Virginia politician)|John Floyd]] in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], and later displayed at [[Bellona Arsenal]] and other public buildings. John suggested that the flag should fly during special events instead of the American flag. The flag and the idea of flying it in place of the American 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. John would later raise the American flag alongside the state flag to appease both sides of the house.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |date=1833-04-04 |title=Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, April 04, 1833, Image 2 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85025006/1833-04-04/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1756&sort=date&rows=20&words=Banner+Flag+State&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=1&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=State+flag+banner&y=13&x=22&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=2025-05-07 |issn=2767-3669}}</ref> This flag was not officially adopted until April 30, 1861, nearly two weeks after the state seceded from the Union.<ref name="NState"/>

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.<ref name="auto"/> When the state seal was standardized on February 1, 1950, the flag was also updated to reflect the standardization.<ref name=1-506/>

In 2001, the [[North American Vexillological Association]] surveyed its members on the designs of 72 [[U.S. state]], [[US Territory|U.S. territorial]], [[Canadian province|Canadian provincial and Canadian territorial]] flags. The survey ranked Virginia's flag 54th out of 72.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nava.org/digital-library/design/surveys/2001-State-Provincial-Flag-Survey.pdf|title=2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org|work=nava.org}}</ref>

{{Gallery|align=center|height=140|width=200
|Flag of Virginia (1861).jpg|A surviving copy of the Civil War era state flag
|Flag of Virginia (1879).png|A Virginia state flag from 1879 based on descriptions<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |date=1879-04-12 |title=Chicago daily tribune. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1872-1963, April 12, 1879, Image 7 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84031492/1879-04-12/ed-1/seq-7/#date1=1756&sort=relevance&rows=20&words=banner+flag+States&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=16&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=state+flag+banner&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=34 |access-date=2025-05-23 |pages=7 |issn=2572-9985}}</ref>|
Virginia_State_flag_1904.jpg|A surviving Virginia state flag with the 1904 state seal
|Virginia_State_Flag_1917.jpg|A depiction of the state flag from 1917
|Virginia Bicentennial 13c 1976 issue.JPG|The Virginia state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series
}}

===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 a modified version of the flag that censored the exposed breast of the woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Julian |date=2010-05-05 |title=Cuccinelli Covers Up Bosom |url=https://www.styleweekly.com/cuccinelli-covers-up-bosom/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Style Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |date=2025-04-18 |title=What a boob: Texas school district bans Virginia state flag and seal over naked breast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/18/texas-bans-virginia-flag-breast |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peifer |first=Karri |date=2025-04-17 |title=Virginia flag banned in Texas district over exposed breast |url=https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/17/texas-school-district-virginia-flag-ban-nudity |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiser |first=Uriah |date=2024-04-17 |title=Yugene Vindman calls for review of Virginia's State Flag amid controversy over Confederate symbolism |url=https://www.potomaclocal.com/2024/04/17/yugene-vindman-calls-for-review-of-virginias-state-flag-amid-controversy-over-confederate-symbolism/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Potomac Local News |language=en}}</ref>

==Seal history==
In May 1776 the [[Colony of Virginia|Virginian colony]] declared its independence from [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]. On July 1, 1776, a committee of four was appointed to make a proper [[Seal (emblem)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emblems of the Commonwealth of Virginia |url=https://capclass.virginiageneralassembly.gov/Emblems/index.html#:~:text=The%20Seal%20of%20the%20Commonwealth,more%20goddesses%20and%20the%20word |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=capclass.virginiageneralassembly.gov}}</ref>

The seal makers did not want a design which in any way resembled the style of [[coats-of-arms|coats of arms]] used in Great Britain. Because of the admiration for the [[Roman Republic]] felt by the Virginian leaders, the design of the new seal was two-sided and was taken from the mythology of [[Ancient Rome]].

By 1912, many variants of the seal had become propagated, leading to confusion as to which was the actual seal. Thus, Virginia decided to standardize the design of the seal in order to avoid confusion.<ref name="auto"/>

{{Gallery|align=center|height=150
|Seal of Virginia (1714).png|1714 seal
|Great Seal of Virginia - George III.png|George III-era seal obverse and reverse
|Virginia state coat of arms (illustrated, 1876).jpg|Virginia state [[Historical coats of arms of the U.S. states|historical coat of arms]] (illustrated, 1876)

}}

===Historical depictions of the seal===
{{Gallery|align=center|height=120
|Seal of Virginia "Sic semper tyrannis" art detail, from Virginia (NYPL b14547333-420329) (cropped).tif|Seal of Virginia, 1850 to 1890
|Seal of Virginia (1851).png|1851 seal obverse
|Seal of Virginia (1865–1873).png|Seal of Virginia, 1865 to 1873
|Seal of Virginia (1875).png|1875 seal obverse
|Seal of Virginia (1876).png|1876 seal obverse
|Seal of Virginia (1894), obverse and reverse.png|1894 seal obverse and reverse
|Seal of Virginia (1904).png|1904 seal obverse
}}

==Design==
===Obverse===
[[File:US-NBN-VA-state seal detail (Series 1882BB reverse) proof.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Virginia state seal depicted on the reverse of Series 1882BB National Bank Notes]]
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 [[Virtus (deity)|female figure]] personifying the Roman virtue of {{Lang|la|[[virtus]]}} 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 [[Scabbard|sheath]]ed; 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 [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]'s defeat by Virginia. The [[Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom|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 (state)|New York]] are the only U.S. states with a flag or seal displaying a crown.  The broken [[Link chain|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 civilization|Etruscan]] king of [[Rome]], [[Tarquinius Priscus]].{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The [[motto]] selected for the obverse of the Virginia seal is ''[[Sic semper tyrannis]]'', or in [[English language|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 [[Assassination of Julius Caesar|slaying]] of Caesar. (Caesar had been named [[dictator perpetuo|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 [[American Civil War|Civil War]], is that "''Sic semper tyrannis''" actually means "Get your foot off my neck."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=von Borcke |first=Heros |author-link=Heros von Borcke |date=April 1866 |title=Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HqrZODfwUIIC&pg=PA462 |journal=[[Blackwood's Magazine|Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine]] |version=American edition, vol. 62 |location=New York |publisher=Leonard Scott & Co. |volume=99 |issue=606 |page=462 |access-date=21 August 2010 |quote=...the coat of arms of the state of Virginia, bearing the motto, ''Sic semper tyrannis'', which the soldiers translated, "Take your foot off my neck", from the action of the principal figure ... representing Liberty, who, with a lance in her right hand, is standing over the conquered and prostrate tyrant, and apparently trampling on him with her heel.}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Ken Cuccinelli]], [[Attorney General of Virginia|attorney general of Virginia]], gave his staff [[lapel pin]]s 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 [[Government spending|taxpayer funds]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamptonroads.com/2010/04/cuccinelli-opts-more-modest-state-seal |title=Cuccinelli opts for more modest state seal |first=Julian |last=Walker |location=Virginia |work=The Virginian-Pilot |date=May 1, 2010 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328151929/http://www.hamptonroads.com/2010/04/cuccinelli-opts-more-modest-state-seal |archive-date=March 28, 2014 }}</ref>

===Reverse===
The reverse of the seal pictures the [[blessing]]s of freedom and peace, as represented by three Roman [[goddess]]es. 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|Phrygian cap]]—also called a liberty cap—later made popular by French revolutionaries.

To the left of Libertas stands [[Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]], the Roman goddess of [[agriculture]]. In her left hand is a [[Cornucopia|horn of plenty]] overflowing with the abundance of Virginia's [[harvest]]s, 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 (mythology)|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 [[Virginia State Capitol|Capitol]] in Richmond were designed by [[Charles Keck]].<ref name=SixHour/><ref name=CenturyArchives/> What the committee approved was basically adopting the 1776 seal as the standard. In 1949, another standard was implemented, when [[Virginia Commission for the Arts|Virginia's Art Commission]] defined the official color scheme for the seal.<ref name=NState/>
 
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.

==Legal description of seal==
[[File:Great Seal of Virginia in Compass.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The state seal in front of the [[Virginia State Capitol]] Building.]]
The Seal of Virginia is officially described in the [[Code of Virginia]] (1950), §1-500, as follows:

{{quote|The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of two metallic discs, two and one-fourth inches in diameter, with an ornamental border one fourth of an inch wide, with such words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce impressions to be described as follows: On the obverse, [[Virtus (deity)|Virtus]], the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or [[parazonium]], pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word "Virginia," and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." On the reverse, shall be placed a group consisting of [[Libertas]], holding a wand and pileus in her right hand; on her right, [[Aeternitas]], with a globe and phoenix in her right hand; on the left of Libertas, [[Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]], with a cornucopia in her left hand, and an ear of wheat in her right; over this device, in a curved line, the word "Perseverando."<ref name=1-500/>}}

Under Virginian state law, the [[Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia|secretary of the Commonwealth]] is also the [[Keeper of the Seals]] of the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]].<ref name="1-502">{{cite web |author= |date=February 1, 1950 |title=§ 1-502. Custody; impressions displayed in The Library of Virginia. |url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/1-502/ |access-date=January 29, 2015 |work=[[Code of Virginia]] |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia |quote=The seals of the Commonwealth described in §§ 1-500 and 1-501 shall be kept by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and used as provided by law, and at least three clear impressions of the seals shall be kept and displayed by the Librarian of Virginia in some suitable place in The Library of Virginia, for public inspection. (Code 1950, § 7-28; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-28; 1994, c. 64; 1998, c. 427; 2005, c. 839.) |location=}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
[[File:Banner of the Virginia Company.svg|thumb|250px|{{FIAV|historical}} [[Banner of arms]] used as flag of [[Virginia Company]] at the beginning of the 17th century.]]
At the [[University of Virginia]] on July 10, 1976, as part of her visit to celebrate the bi-centenary of the United States of America, [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] presented the [[Mills Godwin|Governor of Virginia]] the Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated June 3, 1976, which devised arms, crest and supporters for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Because the design included the royal crown and quarterings of the royal arms, the Queen had to approve the design before the devisal could be made. The design was one used by the Virginia Merchants and [[Colony of Virginia]] from around 1620 until 1776.<ref>{{Cite web |title=January 2024 Newsletter (no. 74) - College of Arms |url=https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/223-january-2024-newsletter-no-74 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=www.college-of-arms.gov.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>{{Infobox COA wide|name=Commonwealth of Virginia|image=File:Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Virginia.png|imagesize=220|bannerimage=|badgeimage=|notes=|year_adopted=June 3 1976|coronet=|torse=|helm=|escutcheon=Argent a Cross Gules between four Escutcheons each ensigned with a Royal Crown those in the first and fourth quarters emblazoned with the Arms of France (modern) quartering those of England the Escutcheon in the second quarter with the Arms of Scotland and that in the third quarter with the Arms of Ireland.|supporters=On either side a Man in Armour (circa 1620) with Sword sheathed proper garnished Or his breast plate Argent charged with a Cross Gules his helmet with beaver raised and adorned with three Ostrich Feathers Argent supporting with his exterior hand a Spear proper tipped Argent.|compartment=|motto=En Dat Virginia Quintam|orders=|banner=|badge=|symbolism=|other_versions=}}

==Governmental seals==
<gallery>
File:Virginia_supreme_court_seal.png|Seal of the [[Supreme Court of Virginia]]
File:Seal of the State Corporation Commission of Virginia.svg|Seal of the [[State Corporation Commission (Virginia)|State Corporation Commission]] of Virginia
File:Vaguard.png|Seal of the [[Virginia National Guard]]
File:Seal of the Virginia Senate.svg|Seal of the [[Virginia Senate]]
</gallery>
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Adapted from [[Simkins, Francis Butler]]; Jones, Spotswood Hunnicutt; & Poole, Sidman P. (1964). ''Virginia: History, Government, Geography (Revised Edition)''.  Charles Scribner's Sons.  pp 673–675.
* [http://lis.virginia.gov/000/src.htm The Virginia Legislative Information System]
* {{Cite web|url=http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+1-506|title=§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth|work=[[Code of Virginia]]}}

==External links==
{{Portal bar|Heraldry|Virginia}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070803155802/http://legis.state.va.us/1_cap_class/6-8/6_8_emb_symb.html State symbols of the Commonwealth of Virginia] (archived)
*[https://store.dgs.virginia.gov/ Virginian Department of General Services store]

{{US state coats of arms}}
{{US_state_flags}}
{{US state seals}}
{{Virginia}}
{{George Mason}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag and seal of Virginia}}
[[Category:Symbols of Virginia]]
[[Category:United States state seals|Virginia]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with spears|Virginia]]
[[Category:United States state flags|Virginia]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with swords|Virginia]]
[[Category:Coats of arms with crowns|Virginia]]