12/26/08

California

PASSENGER

1993 embossed "CALIFORNIA" base:  The following design replaced the setting sun graphic design and has the state name embossed.  The plate numbers for this design ran from "2GPA000" to 3FZZ999".

1993 (blue & red/reflective white) natural $3.00 (actual plate)

1994 (blue & red/reflective white) natural $3.00 (actual plate)

Script "California" base:  The following design featured a screened script "California" and began with plate number "3GAA000".  The design ended at the end of 1997 at approximately plate number "3XZZ999" when the state introduced the sesquicentennial in the beginning of 1998 with "4AAA000".  This design was resumed towards the end of 2000 (by removing the sesquicentennial slogan) in the "4NPA000" series and is the current design.  There are three variations of the "California" script size:

          Type I:   small ("3GAA000" through about "3KOA999")
          Type II:  medium ("3KOB000" through about the "3N" or "3P" series)
          Type III: large (about the "3N" or "3P" series onward).

2002 (blue & red/reflective white) type III natural $3.00 (actual plate)

From 1998 through 2000, California added the caption "SESQUICENTENNIAL - 150 YEARS" to the bottom of the standard plate to honor the states 150th anniversary of statehood (1850-2000):