Flags whose reverse differs from the obverse
This article contains a list of flags for which the reverse (back) is different from the obverse (front). It includes current as well as historic flags of both nations and national subdivisions such as provinces, states, territories, and cities (including a few that are not recognized by the United Nations or whose sovereignty is in dispute). When the flag is that of a nation, the Subdivision column is blank. For present-day flags the Dates column is typically blank.
The list below includes flags for which the back is the mirrored reverse (exact copy) of the front. It does not include flags whose back is the mirror image (horizontally flipped) of the front, as is the case with most asymmetric flags (for example, a blue rectangle with 50 stars appears at the top left corner of the US flag. However, when viewed from behind it is seen at the top right corner). Mirrored reverse flags are much less common and contain an element for which a simple mirror image would be problematic, such as text (e.g. Saudi Arabia's flag includes the shahada, an Islamic creed) or a geographic feature (e.g. the 1970s Bangladeshi flag included a yellow map of the country). Flags with truly different images on each side are even rarer. The only UN-recognized nation whose present-day flag contains a unique image on each side is Paraguay.
Flags by nation
| Nation | Subdivision | Dates | Obverse | Reverse | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | San Juan |  |
.svg.png) |
List of Argentine flags | |
| Bangladesh | — | 1971–1972 | .svg.png) |
.svg.png) |
List of Bangladeshi flags |
| Brazil | — | — |  |
|
Flag of Brazil |
| Bulgaria | Stara Zagora | .svg.png) |
.svg.png) |
||
| Hungary | Dorog |  |
.svg.png) |
||
| Moldova | — | 1990–2010 |  |
 |
Flag of Moldova |
| Moldova | Transnistria | .svg.png){kind=spacer} |
 |
Flag of Transnistria | |
| Paraguay | — |  |
.svg.png) |
Flag of Paraguay | |
| Philippines | — | 1898–1901 | .svg.png) |
.svg.png) |
Flag of First Philippine Republic
|
| Saudi Arabia | — |  |
|
Flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | |
| Soviet Union | — | 1923–1991 |  |
.svg.png) |
While the flag of the Soviet Union was officially two-sided, in practice the flag was usually made through and through. All flags of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union did not bear the hammer and sickle on their reverse side. |
| Spain | Arapiles |  |
 |
||
| United States | Alabama | 1861–1865 | .svg.png) |
.svg.png) |
Flag of Alabama |
| Massachusetts | 1908–1971 |  |
.svg.png) |
In 1971 the pine tree design on the reverse of the flag of Massachusetts was replaced by the obverse design; a shield depicting an Algonquian Native American with bow and arrow, with the arrow pointed downwards signifying peace. | |
| Minnesota | 1893–1957 | .svg.png) |
.svg.png) |
Flag of Minnesota | |
| Oregon | 1925–present |  |
.svg.png) |
The flag of Oregon is currently the only double-sided state flag. | |
| Richmond, Virginia | 1914–1933 | .png) |
.gif) |
Flag of Richmond, Virginia | |
| West Virginia | 1905–1907 | .svg.png) |
_reverse.png) |
Carmine red fringe (see Flag of West Virginia#1905 flag) | |
| West Virginia | 1907–1929 | .png) |
|
Old gold fringe (see Flag of West Virginia#1907 flag) |