Paraguay

Paraguay – Obverse

OK, there really aren’t a whole lot of problems with this one. Well, there is the seal in the middle. And if you removed the seal (which Paraguay should seriously consider) you’d have the Netherlands’ flag. So not that original.

Paraguay – Reverse

But wait: the reverse of Paraguay’s flag has a different and worse design than the obverse! These guys just don’t know when to stop. The reverse displays the seal of the Treasury of Paraguay. Interesting – given that I don’t think anyone outside of Paraguay could pick the seal of the Treasury of Paraguay from a lineup of the seals of the treasuries of South American nations.

The treasury seal bears a golden lion and a standard with a Phrygian cap atop it. I’ve got one major issue and a couple of quibbles with this side of the flag. The biggie: Is that a lion kebab? A full torso pierce kind of takes the symbolic power out of the lion. Second, why not pick a jaguar (which is native to Paraguay) and a native hat? 

International Monetary Fund

International Monetary Fund

Some organizations should just give up the idea of having a flag. Beside the IMF headquarters, where does this flag fly? Does it require lendee nations to fly it above all of their banks? Is it used in capture the flag competitions against those jerks at the World Bank?

The color is a poor choice. More reminiscent of tomato soup than money. I would have considered gold or silver. The two hemispheres of the globe and leaf look like two bug eyes and a smug smile.