Flag of Pittsburgh
The flag of Pittsburgh is the official municipal flag of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a vertical bicolor triband of black and gold with the municipal coat of arms in the center.
In 2004, the flag was ranked as the twenty-fourth best flag design out of 150 city flags by the North American Vexillological Association, and was the top-rated tricolor.
In tribute to the flag, all four professional athletic teams in Pittsburgh in the sports of baseball, football, hockey, and soccer have black and gold as their team colors. The arms are based on those of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, namesake of the city.
Design of the flag
The flag is defined in the Code of Ordinances, City of Pittsburgh, Title I, Article I, Chapter 103, Section 3 as follows:Insignia
Motto
The phrase Benigno Numine was the motto of the Earl of Chatham. It is generally translated as "With the Benevolent Deity" or "By the Favour of the Heavens".It was adopted by the newly formed city in 1816. It was excluded from seals and official documents and emblems in the early 20th century before being restored to the seal by City Council on July 3, 1950, and approved by the Mayor on July 7, 1950. Even then, widespread use of the motto was not implemented until City Council looked into the matter in November 1958.
Coat of arms and seal
The city of Pittsburgh's coat of arms is based on the arms of William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham and the city's namesake. The crest of the city's coat of arms serves as a sort of mural crown, featuring an image of a fortress. The Fraternal Order of Police, whose first lodge was founded in Pittsburgh, additionally features the city's coat of arms within its emblem.The official blazon of the city's coat of arms, as defined by a 1925 city ordinance, is as follows:
The design of the seal of Pittsburgh, is defined in the Code of Ordinances, City of Pittsburgh, Title I, Article I, Chapter 103, Section 2 as follows: