# Color-swapped flags **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338 "2019-07-20T06:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/1 "2019-07-20T06:18:21Z")
There are three instances I know of where two flags are color-swapped. By that, I mean that the flags are the same except where flag A has color M, flag B has color N, and where flag A has color N, flag B has color M. There’s actually more than three, but I’m excluding bicolors and tricolors. One of the three is deliberate, one may be deliberate, and the other is mostly accidental. Some people may want to treat this as a trivia question, so I’m going to hide what they are. 1. [Cuba](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cu.html) and [Puerto Rico](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pr.html) – definitely deliberate, both adopted in the 19th century before Cuba was independent. Puerto Rican nationalists deliberately copied the flag of Cuban nationalists. 2. [Switzerland](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch.html) and the International Red Cross – this may be deliberate. I remember reading that someone at the organizing meeting proposed color inverting the Swiss flag to make a symbol for the new organization, but Wikipedia says there’s no evidence for it. Related is the Red Crescent flag which is a switched version of the [Turkish flag](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/tr.html), but since the star on the Turkish flag is left out, I’m not counting it. 3. [Norway](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no.html) and [Iceland](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/is.html) – this one appears to be accidental, well except that both have the Scandinavian cross. Also the shades of blue are not exact, but they’re close enough that I’m counting it. So are there any others? They don’t have to be national flags, any official or even just commonly used flags are acceptable. But remember, I’m not interested in bicolors or tricolors, so [Indonesia](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/id.html) and [Poland](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pl.html), for example, don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/2 "2019-07-20T07:06:56Z")
Kalmar Union (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, united during the middle ages) red Nordic cross on gold field. # Scania province in Sweden Swedish-speaking Finns Norwegian Fascist Party gold Nordic cross on red field Sweden gold Nordic cross on blue field # Ostergotland (unofficial) blue Nordic cross on gold field Finland blue Nordic cross on white field # Parnu, Estonia white Nordic cross on blue field Scotland white saltire on blue field # Russian naval jack blue saltire on white field Medieval Portugal blue cross on white field # Greek naval jack white cross on blue field Flag of the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) black-green-white tricolor with red triangle at hoist Palestine black-white-green tricolor with red triangle at hoist Sudan red-white-black tricolor with green triangle at hoist ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/3 "2019-07-20T07:20:03Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Flag of the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) > black-green-white tricolor with red triangle at hoist > > Palestine > black-white-green tricolor with red triangle at hoist > > Sudan > red-white-black tricolor with green triangle at hoist Impressive list, mbh. You really did your homework there. But the Sudan flag is not a simple color switch of either of the other two. It’s a three-way swap of the Palestine flag and a four-way swap of the Arab Revolt flag. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/4 "2019-07-20T08:15:53Z")
Thanks. Let me add one more: from [Flags of the Holy Roman Empire - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire) > [@](#): > > When the Holy Roman Empire took part in the Crusades, a war flag was flown alongside the black-gold imperial banner. This flag, known as the “Saint George Flag”, was a white cross on a red background: the reverse of the St George’s Cross used as the flag of England.[1] > [@](#): > > In northern Italy, during the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in the 12th to 14th centuries, the armies of the Ghibelline (pro-imperial) communes adopted the war banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (white cross on red) as their own, while the Guelph (anti-imperial) communes reversed the colours (red cross on white). These two schemes are prevalent in the modern civic heraldry of northern Italian towns and remains a revealing indicator of their past factional leanings. Traditionally Ghibelline towns like Pavia, Novara, Como, and Asti continue to display the Ghibelline cross. The Guelph cross can be found on the civic arms of traditionally Guelph towns like Milan, Vercelli, Alessandria, Reggio, and Bologna. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/5 "2019-07-20T08:28:44Z")
The Nova Scotia flag is clearly an intentional reverse of the Scottish flag, with the Scottish royal standard added in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/6 "2019-07-20T12:46:40Z")
Iceland and the Faroe Islands Åland and [Hälsingland](http://www.varldensflaggor.se/halsinglands-flagga.html)(unofficial) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/7 "2019-07-20T20:45:48Z")
Thanks for the additions, Ignotus and mbh, Appreciate them. I’m not going to count Nova Scotia and Scotland. Any additional features rule them out. However, I did find [this page](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xx-stand.html) on Flags of the World site that has all the flags that are based on saltires (i.e. X from corner to corner). Most of them have some additional feature, but there’s some without. In particular, I found a shipping line flag, that of [Hong Kong, Canton & Macao Steamship Company, Limited](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/hk~ship2.html#hcm) is a white saltire on red, which is the swapped [Alabama](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-al.html) flag and the [St Patrick’s cross](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ie-stpat.html) flag. There are probably others on that page that are also switched-color flags (I’ve only checked a few of them). ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/8 "2019-07-22T01:31:20Z")
Cuba and Puerto Rico fit the bill. Cuba has 3 blue stripes alternating with 2 white stripes. It has a red triangular field with one star on the left. Puerto Rico has 3 red stripes alternating with 2 white stripes. It has a blue triangular field with one star on the left. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/9 "2019-07-22T07:02:49Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > Cuba and Puerto Rico fit the bill. > > Cuba has 3 blue stripes alternating with 2 white stripes. It has a red triangular field with one star on the left. > > Puerto Rico has 3 red stripes alternating with 2 white stripes. It has a blue triangular field with one star on the left. You got one of the three I spoilered in the OP. Very good. Want to try for the other two? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/10 "2019-07-22T15:49:03Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Thanks for the additions, Ignotus and mbh, Appreciate them. > > I’m not going to count Nova Scotia and Scotland. Suit yourself ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/11 "2019-07-22T18:30:18Z")
Cuba is a 2:1 aspect ratio, and Puerto Rico appears more squared, so they aren’t identical. Nitpick of nitpicks, I know. Qatar and Bahrain are very similar, but not identical. Different ratios, and the number of “spikes” is different, but they are otherwise different shades of red. Except for a seal, Costa Rica and Thailand are similar. Even weirdest is that Chad and Romania are identical, while Andorra is the same except for the ratio and a coat of arms. South Sudan and Mozambique almost, the latter has an added hoe and AK-47. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/12 "2019-07-22T20:55:36Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Except for a seal, Costa Rica and Thailand are similar. That’s actually a color swapping, so point to you for that one. FotW doesn’t show any seals on their flags. > [@](#): > > Even weirdest is that Chad and Romania are identical, while Andorra is the same except for the ratio and a coat of arms. Flags of the World shows the blue in those two are different shades: [Chad](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/td.html) [Romania](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ro.html) > [@](#): > > South Sudan and Mozambique almost, the latter has an added hoe and AK-47. The basic plan is the same (ignoring the gun and tool): a triangle on the left with a yellow star in it and three stripes to the right separated by white borders, but the colors of those fields are all different. [Mozambique](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/mz.html) has a red triangle and green, black and yellow stripes, while [South Sudan](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ss.html) has a blue triangle and black, red and green stripes. If you want other identical flags, [Indonesia](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/id.html) and [Monaco](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/mc.html) are the same. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/13 "2019-07-22T21:17:44Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Except for a seal, Costa Rica and Thailand are similar. > [@dtilque](#): > > That’s actually a color swapping, so point to you for that one. FotW doesn’t show any seals on their flags. I should elaborate: Costa Rica’s [national flag](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cr.html) has no seal, but their [state flag](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cr-state.html) does have a seal. I’ve never been quite certain of what the difference between national and state flags are, but no doubt they’re displayed by different people or at different times or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/14 "2019-07-22T23:34:31Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > ================================================= > Flag of the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) > black-green-white tricolor with red triangle at hoist > > Palestine > black-white-green tricolor with red triangle at hoist > > Sudan > red-white-black tricolor with green triangle at hoist Images: [Palestine](https://www.onlinestores.com/flagdetective/palestine-flag.htm) [Sudan](https://www.onlinestores.com/flagdetective/sudan-flag.htm) Nearly the same, missing the tip of the triangle: [Kuwait](https://www.onlinestores.com/flagdetective/kuwait-flag.htm) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/15 "2019-07-22T23:55:58Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I should elaborate: Costa Rica’s [national flag](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cr.html) has no seal, but their [state flag](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cr-state.html) does have a seal. I’ve never been quite certain of what the difference between national and state flags are, but no doubt they’re displayed by different people or at different times or something like that. “state flag” or “government flag” is the flag legally authorized for use of government offices and official public-sector activities - the flag of the State. “national flag” or “civil flag” is a flag for general use by private entities, individual citizens and nongovernmental activities, the flag of the nation/people. In many countries in everyday use interchangeable use by civilians is authorized or there is little or no enforcement or the differences are so subtle they may become used indistinctly. Or else, as in the flags of the Central American nations, the mutual similarities are so great that you virtually have to use the state flag if you want to tell them apart. See here. In the US historically the national flag, government flag, battle standard, naval ensign and merchant ensign have been all the same thing but in other places they are visiby different. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/16 "2019-07-23T14:33:12Z")
Immediately thought of [The French/Belgian Throw Pillow](https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/3jwkac/the_left_cushion_is_french_the_right_one_dutch/). (Belgium uses the French flag turned 90º) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/17 "2019-07-23T17:05:53Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Immediately thought of [The French/Belgian Throw Pillow](https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/3jwkac/the_left_cushion_is_french_the_right_one_dutch/). > > (Belgium uses the French flag turned 90º) The Belgian flag is similar to the _German_flag, rotated, except that Germany is Black, Red, Yellow, and Belgium is Black, Yellow, Red. Also, Germany’s yellow is really gold. And proportions differ. The flags in your link are purported to be French and _Dutch_ , positing that one is identical to the other, merely rotated. In fact, the Dutch and French flags have a different shade of red. And a different shade of blue. And different proportions. But the white center stripe is the same, so there’s that. > **[Netherlands Flag Colors » Country Flags » SchemeColor.com](https://www.schemecolor.com/netherlands-flag-colors.php)** > > Download Netherlands Flag Colors color scheme consisting of #AE1C28, #FFFFFF and #21468B. This 3 colors palette has been categorised in Country Flags color category. > **[France Flag Colors » Country Flags » SchemeColor.com](https://www.schemecolor.com/france-flag-colors.php)** > > Download France Flag Colors color scheme consisting of #0055A4, #FFFFFF and #EF4135. This 3 colors palette has been categorised in Country Flags color category. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-swapped-flags/837338/18 "2019-07-23T17:21:01Z")
Also, the OP said to exclude tricolors and bicolors.