Chap. 386.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 27 and 31 of the Code
of Virginia, in relation to the seal and the flag of the State. [H B 391]

Approved March 24, 1930
1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections
twenty-seven and thirty-one of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 27. The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall
consist of two metallic discs, two inches and one-fourth in diameter,
with an ornamental border one-fourth of an inch wide, with such
words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce im-
pressions to be described as follows: On the obverse, 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 up-turned; her left foot on the form of Tyran-
ny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her
left, his fallen crown near by, a broken chain in his left hand, and a
scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border con-
forming therewith, shall be the word Virginia, and, in the space below,
on a curved line, shall be the motto, sic semper tyrannis. On the re-
verse, 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. , .

(a) The governor is hereby authorized and directed to cause a
new great seal of the Commonwealth to be constructed and engraved,
with all reasonable dispatch, in strict conformity with the foregoing
description, by artists and engravers of high rank in their professions,
and under the supervision of the art commission of Virginia, and
when completed, to also have constructed and engraved a new lesser
seal of the Commonwealth in accordance with section twenty-eight of
the Code of Virginia. The governor shall, after said seals shall have
been completed, and approved by him, proclaim the same, by such
means as he may deem sufficient, to be the true great seal and lesser
seal of the Commonwealth.

(b) The great and lesser seals now in use in the office of the
secretary of the Commonwealth are hereby declared to be the true
great and lesser seals of the Commonwealth for the time being, and
to so continue and be used as such, until the new seals shall be com-
pleted and proclaimed as herein provided for, and all official acts done
thereunder, in the name of the Commonwealth, are hereby declared
to be valid in so far as the affixing of the seal of the State thereto,
may have been, or may be, a necessary part of the due execution, or
performance thereof.

(c) Any and all seals now under the care of the secretary of the
Commonwealth shall, after the completion and proclamation of the
new seals herein provided for, be cancelled by quartering the same
with two straight lines crossing at right angles at the center of the
discs, and cut at least as deep as the figures thereon, which seals so
cancelled shall be safely kept in the office of the secretary of the Com-
monwealth and at least three clear impressions thereof filed with the
State librarian to be by him duly indexed and safely kept in a suitable
place. |

(d) The new, and permanent, seals of the Commonwealth, herein
provided for shall, when completed, be kept and used as provided by
law, and at least three clear impressions thereof shall be made and
filed with the State librarian to be by him kept and displayed in some
suitable place in the State library, for public inspection.

(e) A sum sufficient, not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars, is
hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to meet the necessary expenses of carrying out the pro-
visions of this act.

Section 31. The flag of the Commonwealth shall hereafter be
made of bunting or merino. It shall be a deep blue field, with a cir-
cular 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 State, as described in section twenty-seven of the Code of Vir-
ginia, as amended by this act, for the obverse of the great seal of the
State; and there shall be a white silk fringe on the outer edge, furthest
from the flag-staff. This shall be known and respected as the flag
of Virginia.