The Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the official seal 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 current version is the only U.S. state flag depicting nudity: the standing allegorical figure of virtue has an exposed breast in the manner of classical depictions of Amazons. She has just vanquished tyranny, who is symbolized by the fallen king. The motto, "Sic semper tyrannis," means "Thus always to tyrants." The flag may be decorated with a white fringe along the fly edge; this is usually done when the flag is displayed ind