Editing Flag and seal of Virginia (section)

==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.