Iceland - Government Flags

Island

Last modified: 2002-07-20 by rob raeside
Keywords: iceland | island | europe | cross | scandinavian cross |
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• The state flag and ensign
• Current official flags
• President's flag
• Customs flag
• Pilot flag
• Coast guard
• Post ensign
• Telegraph ensign
• Post and Telegraph ensign

See also:

• Iceland
• Historic flags of Iceland
• Coat of arms of Iceland
• Royal flags of Iceland

The state flag was introduced in 1919, and has not changed since.
Jan Oskar Engene, 24 June 1996

The state flag is derived from the national flag with a swallow-tail fly cut as (7+1+2+1+7):(7+1+2+1+9+12). Smith (1982) designated the use of this flag as -SW/-SW. Now, I know that currently Iceland has a treaty with USA regarding its defence, and that the US Navy performs as an IDF (and uses the US ensign), but possibly there are some kind of military units on land? In any case, this flag was certainly used as war flag and war ensign before the treaty was signed.
Zeljko Heimer, 1 February 2002

Iceland has never had any military forces of its own, before or after the treaty with the USA. It does have an armed coast guard, but I believe this is considered a civilian force similar to the police. I therefore believe it is more correct to designate this flag as -S-/-S-.
Jan Oskar Engene, 1 February 2002

Up till this year (1998) Iceland had six official flags, established by the flag law and a presidential proclamation, both of 1944. These were the national flag, the state flag (swallow-tailed), the president's flag, the customs flag, the flag of the post and telecommunications service, and the pilot flag.

On 12 June 1998 Iceland's parliament adopted an act to amend the flag law of 17 June 1944. Two flags were abolished by the amendment: The flag of the post and telecommunications service (because of privatization) and the pilot flag (this had gone out of use). This means that Iceland now has four official flags: The national flag, the swallow-tailed state flag, the president's flag, and the customs flag. The presidential flag and the customs flag are both based on the swallow-tailed state flag. In the president's flag the national arms of Iceland are set on a white panel in the centre of the cross. The customs flag has a silver T in the canton.
Jan Oskar Engene, 14 December 1998

The presidential flag was adopted 18 July 1944. The flag is swallow-tailed.
J