The flag is a yellow-on-blue bicolor vertical triband defaced with the seal of the city; the Philadelphia City Code defines the flag as "divided vertically in 3 equal parts, of which the first and third shall be azure blue and the middle pale golden yellow" with the city seal on the center of the yellow stripe; flags displayed by entities other than the municipal government often omit the seal.

[3] The current version of the coat of arms was designed mainly by Colonel Frank Marx and adopted by City Council on February 14, 1874.

CREST -- A right arm, nude, embowed, couped at shoulder, holding a pair of scales; all proper.

SUPPORTERS -- Two females, standing full face, the one on the left side of the shield habited white and purple, crowned with an olive wreath; in her right hand a scroll, charged with an anchor; all proper; the one on the right side habited white and blue; in her left hand a cornucopia, proper.

"[4] Four guiding principles of the City are found on the flag: peace, hope, abundance, and justice.