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,

The 2024 Code of Virginia, Title 1, Chapter 5, § 1-506 defines the state flag as follows:

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.

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.

During the Mexican-American War troops from the state carried flags with the Virginia coat of arms on them. In September of 1846, the state ordered for 2 large state flags to be displayed at the capitol. 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.

During President Lincoln inauguration delegates from the state carried with them the Stars and Stripes with the word "Virginia," on it.

Official flags (1861–present)

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.

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.

In 1873, a bill was introduced in the House of Delegates to re-establish the state flag as adopted in 1861.

In May of 1890, a large ball was being held at the local threader in the city of Richmond. The central area was decorticated 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.

During the 1907 Jamestown Exposition the Governor's flag was flown over the Virginia building. 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 cetner.

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.

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.

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: