Pennsylvania
STATUS: State of the U.S.A.
CAPITAL: Harrisburg
WORLD LOCATION: Eastern USA
FIRST LICENSE PLATES IN USE: 1902-03
FIRST STATE ISSUED LICENSE PLATES IN USE: 1906
MOTOR VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED: 8,600,000
CURRENT SLOGAN: "Keystone State" since 1977.
FORMER SLOGANS: "WWW.STATE.PA.US" since 1999, "You've Got A Friend In... Pennsylvania" (1983 to 1999), "Bicentennial State" (1971 to 1976).
GRAPHICS USED: All plates from 1937 through 1970 have had the state outline around the outside of the plate. Plates from 1921 through 1936 had small "keystones" on either side of the state/date legend. A few 1937 plates had both the state map shape and the keystones, but these are rather rare. Plates from 1910 through 1919 had a large keystone to the left of the number, between the date and state name, usually stamped with a maker's number, or aluminum keystone stamped with a maker's number. A small "keystone" emblem divided the serial number on the 1958 through 1970 plates, which was replaced with a large embossed "liberty bell" from 1971 through 1976. In 1977, the keystone returned, though larger, and hollow. By 1984, the "Friend" issues came out, and the keystone was still large in size, but solid. The large keystone remained on the plates until the 1990's, when the first seven digit "AAA-0000" series plates came out, at which time the "1958" sized keystone returned, to make room for the extra digit. The latest issue is the "URL" issue, with gradient colors, and the web address of the Pennsylvania state website across the bottom.
PORCELAINS ISSUED: 1906 through 1915
PLATES ARE: Officially issued.
SINGLE PLATES OR PAIRS: Single plates.
OVAL: USA ISO: US
CARS DRIVE ON: Right
Current "URL" Pennsylvania plate at top of page from the car of Frank "Big Tony" Anthony. Standard blue "Keystone State" issue from the van of Drew "The Editor" Steitz.
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Prototype Pennsylvania environmental issue. Found on the web, courtesy of Paul Bagnarol. |
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Former series passenger plate, yellow on blue standard series vanity plate - from the Drew-wagon. |
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1914 Pennsylvania license plate - white on black porcelain, with unusually high number, with close up of the maker's seal. From the PL8S photo archive. |
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